Silicon Valley, CA – The Space Frontier Foundation (SFF) will host the NewSpace Business Plan Competition (NewSpace BPC) during its NewSpace 2011 Conference and is currently accepting submissions. The goal of the NewSpace BPC is to help entrepreneurs develop problem-solving and game-changing technologies into functioning businesses in support of the commercial space industry. The conference will be held at the NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley on July 28-30 and registration is available online.
“Many successful businesses have begun life as entries in business plan competitions,” stated Art Dula, Trustee and literary executor of the estate of acclaimed science fiction author Robert Heinlein. “With this in mind the Heinlein Prize Trust supports both the Space Frontier Foundation business plan competition and one conducted by the University of Arkansas.”
Finalists will present their plans to a distinguished panel of judges featuring venture capitalists, angel investors, and business development leaders on July 29th. They will receive professional feedback and exposure to the public, press, and investor community, and the winner will be awarded a $5,000 prize funded by the Heinlein Prize Trust.
Entrepreneurial space, space-related, or “space-scalable” companies wishing to participate should submit Executive Summaries and an entry form by June 15th to businessplan@spacefrontier.org.
Competition rules and submission forms can be found by clicking here.
Previous presenters at the NewSpace BPC have prospered from the experience, both through the competition itself and the opportunity for professional networking at the conference. For example, the 2009 NewSpace BPC winner, Flagsuit LLC, is presently manufacturing innovative spacesuit gloves under commercial contract. The day before the competition, companies selected to will take part in an all-day “Boot-Camp” where practical guidance from investors and business professionals will help them work out the kinks in their plan.
Submission guidelines are currently available at www.NewSpaceBPC.com and more information will be posted soon.
