
Do you have a great arts-business idea or project that needs a little boost? Submit your idea to the COSE Arts Business Challenge for a chance to win a $2,000 1st place cash prize, promotional opportunities and in-kind business support. The top three proposals in the Challenge will win money to help get their ideas off the ground.
You'll need to provide an Executive Summary and a four (4) minute video to COSE Arts Network by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15th in order to be considered. Established businesses in any arts-related discipline and aspiring entrepreneurs with an arts-related business start-up idea are eligible to apply for the competition. A total of $4,000 in prize money will be awarded to the top three submissions.
To enter the competition, participants must complete an online application and submit a two page Executive Summary and a video pitch that’s no more than four minutes in length.
Contest Details
- Provide an Executive Summary of your current arts-based business or business idea (2 pages maximum). Executive Summary should include:
- Product or service description
- Target market and size of the market
- Business model (how does your venture make money?)
- Key resources – e.g. patents, design etc
- Management team, their experience and the functions each member performs
- Why your arts-based business is unique and why your team has an advantage over others offering a similar product or service
- Film a quick video pitch, up to 4 minutes in length
This video should complement your executive summary and show our judges why your idea is more worthy than others. You can do this on any webcam—the quality of the video itself will not be judged—it’s the content that counts. The video pitch should address the following:
- What does your business or business idea entail?
- How is your business/idea unique in the marketplace?
- Why does it make good business sense?
- How would you use the prize money to further your business/idea?
- Submit everything online HERE by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 15th 2012
- Top 6 Finalists will be notified June 1st 2012.
The judging panel will review submissions and select 6 Finalists. If chosen, you must attend the Awards Celebration on June 20th at 6:00 p.m. to be considered as a Finalist and/or Top Winner
- Three Top Winners will be announced June 20th At the awards celebration that evening we will recognize all six Finalists, and identify the top three (3) pitches awarding each Top Winner with prize money to help develop and build their concept. 1st place will win $2,000; 2nd and 3rd place will each win $1,000
- Winners of COSE Arts Business and Innovation Awards in the past three years (2011, 2010 and 2009) are not eligible to enter the 2012 Arts Business Challenge.
- To enter you must be a permanent resident in Northeast Ohio (Lorain, Medina, Cuyahoga, Summit, Lake, Geauga, Portage, or Ashtabula County)
- This contest is open to both COSE Members and Nonmembers
Ready to get started? Visit HERE to begin the application process!
For additional information or questions, please contact Matthew Charboneau at mcharboneau@cose.org or (216) 592-2472
Special thanks to our 2012 COSE Arts Business Challenge Sponsor, Medical Mutual
