Hey collegiettes!
Have you ever dreamed of starting and running your own business, or do you have a really cool idea for a new product or service or company, but not quite sure how to actually make it happen? Meet MassChallenge– the world’s largest start-up competition and the perfect launching point to get your business idea off the ground (HC was a winner in MassChallenge last year!).
MassChallenge gives out over $1 million in prizes each year to a handful of high potential start-ups, no strings attached–that means that MassChallenge does not take any ownership or equity in your company, they just give you a cash grant (and free office space)! When HC was a winner in MassChallenge in 2011, we won a $50,000 cash grant and beautiful free office space at the Boston Seaport with the other MassChallenge companies (that’s where our office is right now!).
Anyone can enter, from anywhere in the world, in any industry. All you have to do is submit a simple business plan about your idea, and then you’ll be asked to give a presentation to a group of elite judges if you make it to subsequent rounds. Over the summer, semi-finalists get to take part in the MassChallenge accelerator program where you receive hands-on mentoring, advice, and resources from MassChallenge and its partners–everything from legal advice, to seminars on funding options, to meetings with investors, and more. Then in the fall, the final rounds of judging take place and the cash winners are announced.
You can apply now through April 11, 2012 at MassChallenge.org! If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of launching something of your own, this is the perfect opportunity to make it happen!
Here we are at the MassChallenge awards ceremony in October 2011, where we won $50,000 for Her Campus!