National competition will award business owners up to $25,000 cash, services from Comcast Business and consultation from business experts, including Marcus Lemonis and Robert Irvine
Comcast Business and Inc. Magazine recently launched “Innovations 4 Entrepreneurs,” a national competition that will award more than $600,000 in cash and services to aspiring entrepreneurs who are leveraging technology to enhance customer and employee experiences. Individual winners will have the opportunity to win $25,000 in cash, Comcast Business Internet and TV services for two years, a $2,500 allocation for additional Comcast Business services and complimentary use of premium cloud applications from Comcast’s Upware partners Cisco, Microsoft, Symantec, DocuSign, Soonr and Swiftpage Engage for one year.
“Technology can transform a small business, and we want to elevate and recognize those entrepreneurs that are using it to make a difference for their customers and employees with the Innovations 4 Entrepreneurs program,” said Terry Connell, senior vice president, Comcast Business. “Across our growing customer base, Comcast Business sees so many incredible stories about how innovative uses of technology help create exciting, profitable businesses. This program will show what can happen when these promising companies receive the funding and tools they need to take on the challenges of owning and running their own business.”
Based on an essay submission, entries will be judged and two winners will be selected in each of the 16 Comcast Business Regions: one winner for best use of technology to enhance the customer experience and one for best use of technology to enhance the employee experience. Entries will be judged by John Jantsch, Marketing Consultant, Speaker and best-selling author of Duct Tape Marketing, The Commitment Engine and The Referral Engine and Anita Campbell, Founder, CEO and Publisher of Small Business Trends.
From the 32 regional winners, six will be named grand prize winners and, in addition to cash and services, will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City, where they and a guest will have the opportunity to receive one-on-one consulting with nationally recognized business experts: Marcus Lemonis, businessman, investor, TV personality and Philanthropist; Robert Irvine, Celebrity Chef and Entrepreneur; and Comcast senior executives. They will also receive a VIP tour of 30 Rockefeller Center and an awards dinner prepared by Chef Irvine.
Entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit www.business.comcast.com/i4E to submit their application and essay and review the full program details. Entries are due by April 30, 2014.
Regional winners will be notified the week of May 19, 2014. Public voting for the 32 regional winners will be held May 20 – June 1, 2014. The six grand prize winners will be announced the week of June 30, 2014 with the New York awards event planned for August 26, 2014.
About Comcast Business
Comcast Business, a unit of Comcast Cable, provides advanced communication solutions to help organizations of all sizes meet their business objectives. Through a next-generation network that is backed by 24/7 technical support, Comcast delivers Business Internet, Ethernet, TV and a full portfolio of Voice services for cost-effective, simplified communications management.
For more information, call 866-429-3085.
