Thirty New Jersey Entrepreneurs to “Start Something” at 4th Annual Start Something Challenge Kick-Off
Jersey City, NJ (PRWEB) July 06, 2015 -- Each month more than 543,000 entrepreneurs across the country are “Starting Something” by opening new businesses that will change the trajectory of their lives. For the fourth consecutive summer, Rising Tide Capital (RTC) is celebrating the spirit of starting, by honoring the semifinalists who will advance to the second round of the Start Something Challenge (SSC) business pitch competition at a cocktail reception at Gallery Aferro in Newark, NJ.
Thirty New Jersey entrepreneurs will learn if they advanced to the semifinal round of the competition, taking one step closer to the first place prize of $10,000. The 2015 competition, launched on June 15, requires participants to create a video using the Animoto software and promote their video using online and offline marketing tactics. While they had to compete for the most views in the first round, the semifinal round will require them to obtain votes while their business video is hosted on the SSC website.
“We’ve envisioned the Start Something Challenge as not just a pitch competition, but as a business strengthening opportunity for entrepreneurs to network, perfect their elevator pitch and win $30,000 in cash and prizes,” said Esther Fraser, director of communications for Rising Tide Capital. “At this event, we want to celebrate entrepreneurs who have risen to the occasion and answered our challenge to ‘start something’ by entering the competition. I am particularly excited by the speakers we have lined up for this event, and I am hoping that everyone in attendance will leave inspired to keep growing their business ventures.”
Featured guest speakers include 2014 SSC Champion Ninotchka Johnson of Top Notch By Design and Adenah Bayoh, Real Estate Developer and CEO of Irvington and Paterson IHOPs. Bayoh, who escaped to the U.S during a civil war in her native country of Liberia, began her career as an entrepreneur at a young age. Today, she is not only the owner of a thriving real estate company, but has opened IHop restaurants in Paterson and Irvington with hopes of transforming disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The event will be catered by Charnelle Bain of Simply Elegant Events and Vance Lavington of Not Just Cookies, photographed by Imara Moore and feature live music by Nadine La Fond—all graduates of Rising Tide Capital’s 12-week Community Business Academy.
For more information on the Start Something Challenge and upcoming events visit http://www.startsomethingnj.org or contact Justyna Krygowska at Justyna(at)risingtidecapital(dot)org. RSVP here to attend the SSC kick-off event.
Rising Tide Capital (RTC) is a Jersey City-based nonprofit organization founded in 2004 by Harvard graduates Alex Forrester and Alfa Demmellash. RTC helps entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses by providing a 12-week Community Business Academy—supplemented by year-round workshops, coaching and networking events. These programs are currently offered in Spanish and in English in four cities across Northern New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Union City, and Orange Township. As of January, 838 entrepreneurs have graduated from the CBA and together, they operate over 403 businesses in New Jersey. RTC’s model of entrepreneurship development has received national recognition from President Obama to CNN Heroes.
To learn more, visit http://www.RisingTideCapital.org.
The Start Something Challenge (SSC) is a statewide pitch competition and business strengthening opportunity for New Jersey entrepreneurs. The Challenge is funded by visionary supporters and organized by Rising Tide Capital, a non-profit organization that helps entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses. To ensure that every participant has a chance to win the $10,00 top prize, Rising Tide Capital provides each entrant with hands-on coaching and mentorship. Free to enter, the competition is open to any New Jersey resident 18 years or older, who operates a microbusiness or has a strong business idea. In 2013, 108 entrepreneurs from 38 towns and cities representing 13 counties in New Jersey completed applications for the Start Something Challenge.
To learn more, visit http://www.StartSomethingChallenge.org.
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Shanea Phillips, Rising Tide Capital, http://www.risingtidecapital.org, +1 (201) 432-4316 Ext: 117, [email protected]
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