MDC students compete for $5,000 in seed money to bring their ideas to life
Miami, Nov. 29, 2016 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Idea Center offers MDC students another opportunity to win The Startup Challenge, an exciting competition where students pitch their ideas for a new product or business. The 12-week competition begins Jan. 31, 2017, and the first prize is $5,000 in seed money to develop the winning concept. Second and third place will receive $3,000 each.
MDC’s Idea Center launched its first Startup Challenge in 2014, with about 80 teams participating. The top winners were Socrate Elie and Felix Puello, founder of Onetown Boards, who presented a prototype for a waterproof longboard with dual cameras, LED lights and a speedometer, among other features. For now, the company is manufacturing traditional skateboards and Puello plans to gradually add technology. He is studying business at MDC North Campus.
The Startup Challenge is open to MDC students across all disciplines and campuses, regardless of prior business knowledge or experience. Selected entries will advance through to Phase 2 of the Challenge where they will receive support and mentoring along with workshops that will provide tools that will better equip participants to continue to develop the idea into a viable venture. Winners will be selected after passing two live-presentation rounds.
To join the Challenge, students must submit a 60-second video pitching their idea by Jan. 24, 2017. To submit an idea, or for more information, visit http://thestartupchallenge.co.
To learn more about MDC’s Idea Center, visit www.theideacenter.co.