2022 SIUE METRO EAST STARTUP CHALLENGE
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The Challenge is a $25,000 cash prize business plan competition to identify, encourage, and reward excellence in entrepreneurship in the St. Louis Metro East region (now including Fayette and Montgomery Counties). For the 8th year, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois and SIUE School of Business are the competition's cornerstone sponsors. 2021's Networking Event Sponsor is Scott Credit Union who is hosting this year's Mentor-Semifinalist Networking Event. The SIUE School of Business and Illinois Small Business Development Center for the Metro East at SIUE (SBDC) are facilitating the competition.

The purpose of the challenge is to:

Increase the Metro East region’s interest in and excitement for business start-ups through a competitive process;
Identify "growth-oriented" start-ups with plans to operate in the eleven-county St. Louis Metro East region;
Generate a greater awareness of network services/resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners; and
To advance the academic mission of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville by strengthening relationships with private enterprise and expanding opportunities for both students and faculty.

To participate in the 2022 Metro East Startup Challenge, prospective applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. An entrepreneur starting a for-profit small business enterprise or an existing for-profit small business established after April 30, 2019, regardless of State of initial operation;

2. For existing for-profit businesses, operations headquartered in the nine-plus county Metro East region (Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe, Randolph and now open to Montgomery and Fayette Counties!).

3. For an entrepreneur purchasing an existing business, the entity will not be considered a startup. Date will begin with previous ownership.

For pre-venture entrepreneurs, proposed new business operations will need to be located in these eleven counties;

4. No public governmental entities or public/private schools or universities may apply

Due to federal law, businesses concerning cannabis, gambling, or lobbying activities will not be considered for the competition.

The SIUE Metro East Start-Up Challenge includes three (3) rounds. The first round consists of a questionnaire and executive summary submittal for all applicants meeting the eligibility guidelines. The second round is submitting the business plan and is open only to first-round participants who are invited to submit for the second round. The third round is the final pitch and is open only to second round participants invited to develop a pitch. For the 2 additional prizes (Woman, Minority, Veteran Business of the Year and Rural Business of the Year), the top 4 winners will only be eligible for these additional prizes if there are no other entrants from these categories.