NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release

Contact: Anne Dewvall 316.425.7059

NetWork Kansas to Host Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge May 7, 2014

Wichita, Kansas, April 24, 2014 --- NetWork Kansas is hosting the first annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge May 7, 2014 in Bird City, Kansas. Northwest Kansas middle and high school students will compete for $5,000 in prize money at this regional competition. The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge features a business plan tradeshow, elevator pitches, and formal business presentations. Mike Bosch, serial entrepreneur and PIPELINE fellow, will be the featured lunch speaker. The event is open to the public, but RSVPs must be received by April 30.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is open to students in grades 7-12 who live in a northwest Kansas Entrepreneurship (E-) Community who have participated in one of four qualifying local competitions held in Bird City, Rawlins County, Sherman County, and Wichita County during March and April. Northwest Kansas E-Communities include: Bird City, Ellis County, Greeley County, Phillips County, Norton County, Rawlins County, Scott County, Sherman County, Thomas County, and Wichita County.

The competition is hosted by NetWork Kansas as part of their 44-community E-Community Partnership. The E-Community Partnership is dedicated to increasing entrepreneurial activity and developing self-sustaining ecosystems favorable to long-term entrepreneurial growth. NetWork Kansas and Midwest Energy are proud sponsors of the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.

All participants will display a business plan booth, present their entrepreneurship idea to judges, and participate in elevator pitches. Students who advance to the final round will present their business plan in a formal presentation to a panel of judges and the audience. A total of $5,000 in prize money will be awarded, including $2,500 for first place, $1,250 for second place, and $750 for third place, and other awards .

What: The NetWork Kansas Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge

When: Wednesday May 7, 2014

Where: American Legion, 113 W. 4th St., Bird City, KS

Media

For more information, the media can contact the event organizer directly at [email protected].

Youth Entrepreneurship Supporters

RSVP to attend the event by e-mailing [email protected] by April 30, 2014.

Sponsors

Opportunities still exist for businesses to sponsor the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Interested businesses or organizations should contact Anne Dewvall at [email protected].

For more information, contact Anne Dewvall at [email protected] or visit: www.youtheshipchallenge.com.

About NetWork Kansas:

NetWork Kansas was established as a component of the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 to further entrepreneurship and small business growth as a priority for economic and community development in the State of Kansas. Backed by more than 500 resource partners statewide, NetWork Kansas promotes an entrepreneurial environment by connecting entrepreneurs and small business owners with the expertise, education, and economic resources they need in order to succeed. For more information about NetWork Kansas, visit www.networkkansas.com, or call 877.521.8600.

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