Sandbox IdeaLaunch Holds Pitch Contest for Entrepreneurs

LOWELL, Mass. – The Merrimack Valley Sandbox recently launched the Sandbox IdeaLaunch, a new initiative aimed to give entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. Throughout the next six months, the Sandbox IdeaLaunch will hold five pitch contests where people can pitch their ideas. In the fall of this year, a small number of entrepreneurs will be selected to enter a business-plan competition with a prize pool of nearly $50,000. Next year, the program will grow with more entrepreneurs selected and a prize pool of nearly $100,000.

"It takes courage to solicit feedback on an idea, and it takes determination, flexibility, and experimentation to turn an idea into an enterprise. Successful companies of all sizes from Sandbox IdeaLaunch will bring positive social and economic change to the cities and towns of the Merrimack Valley,” says Desh Deshpande , co-founder of the Deshpande Foundation and co-chairman of President Barack Obama’s National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

On May 30, the Sandbox IdeaLaunch will be holding the first pitch contest. This contest will be focused on technology, web, applications and software ideas. Future contests will revolve around arts, environment, education and other types of ideas. During these contests, entrepreneurs will receive feedback about their ideas, network with experienced entrepreneurs and can win thousands of dollars in cash prizes.

More than 30 organizations and institutions are participating in the Sandbox IdeaLaunch including the city of Lowell, the city of Lawrence, Enterprise Bank, Merrimack Valley YMCA and the University of Massachusetts Lowell (full list of partners: www.sandboxidealaunch.org).

Read more about IdeaLaunch!