Application deadline quickly approaching for 2023 Start-Up Challenge

For the past seven years, Sheridan IMPACT 307 has presented a challenge to potential entrepreneurs to compete with fellow like-minded people and earn an opportunity to make a dream come to fruition by participating in the Start-Up Challenge.

Sheridan IMPACT 307 looks for potential entrepreneurs interested in starting a new business or early-stage entrepreneurs wanting to expand their business.

Sheridan IMPACT 307 Business Incubator Director Scot Rendall.

Through the Start-Up Challenges held in various cities around the state, IMPACT 307 provides a monetary incentive and the business support needed for contestants to act on their ideas.

The application process to join the Start-Up Challenge is five weeks long, and only a week remains until this year’s deadline of Sept. 18.

The process of the Start-Up Challenge involves a team of local successful entrepreneurs who will act as judges to examine the applications, searching for the most promising ideas with maximum growth potential. These entrepreneurs are also looking for ideas that diversify the local economy, Rendall said. 

The semi-finalists from this application process will then be required to come into the IMPACT 307 offices, present a five-slide overview of their business idea, and field questions from the Start-Up Challenge judging panel.

Five to six finalists will be selected by the judging panel, situationally dependent. Each finalist will have approximately one month to prepare for their Pitch Night presentation to be held at the historic WYO Theater. IMPACT 307 staff will work with each finalist to help prepare these presentations.

Although the seed money is an incentive, the work with IMPACT 307 to further develop the idea into a tangible business and economic driving force for Sheridan is the real prize, according to Rendall. 

To find out more on the Start-Up Challenge and to fill out an application, click here.