$10,000
$10,000
Win
Win
with
with
THINK
of a
BIG Idea
$25,000 in cash & scholarships to be awarded
$25,000 in cash & scholarships to be awarded
Whitetail
Management
UNL Extension Lincoln/Logan/McPherson Counties
(308) 532-4966
Save the Date for Big Idea North Platte
October 23, 2024
Save the Date for Big Idea North Platte
October 23, 2024
Last Year's
WINNERS
Last Year's
WINNERS
Joshua Howell
Game Knights
$3,000
Mindee Mohr
Pamela Farr
Birthday / Anniversary Chimes
$7,000
Wild Card
Mexican Bakery
$10,000
Last Year's
Youth
WINNERS
Last Year's
Youth
WINNERS
2022
2022
1st- Porter Connick- Cargo Socks $10,000 scholarship
2nd- Madeline Fletcher- Liquid Carriage $7,000 cash
3rd- Brenley Sutton Entrepreneurship Book $3,000 scholarship
1st- Logan Robirds- Switch Charger $2,500 scholarship
2nd- Rose Green- Extend-A-Clip $1,500 scholarship
3rd- Mason Giebler- Hole in a Bucket $1,000 scholarship
2021
2021
2020
2020
1st- Bobbi Walters- Bunkhouse Media $8,000
2nd- Josh Sperle- Hide Park Apparel $5,000
3rd- Adi Fernandez- Radio X $3,000
Youth- Alex Schimek- Pristine Clean $1,000 Scholarship
1st- Casey Schiel-Fire Door Night Light $1,000
2nd- Tommy Vieyra- VStrap $500
3rd- Travis Herdt- Nebraska Spirits $250
Youth: 1st- Trenton Nichols- Chainsaw Art $500
2nd- Rei Wood Black Ember Soap $250
Community Category
Sponsored by Eagle Communications
1st place- $10,000
2nd place- $5,000
3rd place- $2,500
Youth Category
Sponsored by Mid Plains Community College
1st place- $2,500 Scholarship
2nd place- $1,500 Scholarship
3rd place- $1,000 Scholarship
Prizes
Prizes
RESOURCES
ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT
UPLOADING VIDEO TO YOUTUBE
PLANNING A 2-MINUTE SPEECH
Technical Requirements:
To participate, upload your video on YouTube in one of the specified formats:
.MOV, .MPEG4, MP4, .AVI, .WMV, .MPEGPS, .FLV, 3GPP, or WebM.
Your video must not exceed 2 minutes,
any copyrighted content will be removed. Any video over the 2 minutes will not be viewed after the 2-minute mark.
Video submissions may be submitted in either English or Spanish.
For assistance with the technical requirements please reach out to cassie@nparea.com or bigideanp@gmail.com
Confidentiality:
While reasonable efforts will be made to treat submitted business ideas as confidential until the live event, complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
The North Platte Area Chamber and Development, along with event sponsors and judges, are not liable for exposure beyond the event. Participants are responsible for deciding what information to include in their deliverables, and for product/service "selling," consulting a patent attorney is recommended. Submissions not complying with the Official Rules will be considered void.
Judging & Selection
of Winners
In the first two rounds, judging criteria include
Originality and Creativity (50%)
& Feasibility and Likelihood of Success (50%).
Contestants will be notified via telephone, mail, and/or email. If attempts to reach a contestant are unsuccessful, their spot may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate contestant.
Failure to attend the live event in October will disqualify the contestant from winning the
Big Idea North Platte Contest.
The third round will be determined by public voting and judges polling at the live event in October, with the contestant receiving the most votes securing the 1st place prize, the second most votes winning the 2nd place prize, and the third most votes obtaining the 3rd place prize.
The votes are weighted with public voting and judges combined.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the purpose of this event, and why should I enter?
The event aims to give your business idea exposure and expert evaluation. It offers a unique networking opportunity with professionals and valuable educational experiences rarely found outside of normal networking circles.
Do I need a professionally done video?
No, the focus is on your idea, not the video's production quality. Feel free to use any available equipment, even a phone-shot and edited video is acceptable. Your submission video will not be shown at the Live Event in October.
How can I learn to upload videos on YouTube?
Refer to YouTube's helpful how-to guide here.
Is there an age limit for contestants?
Yes, you must be 10 or older, adhering to YouTube's age guidelines.
Can I enter without a complete business plan?
Absolutely! Your idea need does not need to be a fully developed business model, just a description of the product/service, its purpose, target customers, and how it will be available. In fact the finalists will sit down with a business coach and help define their business model and plan.
How will my video be judged?
A panel of local experts will evaluate and rank videos based on originality and creativity (50% of the score) and feasibility of success (remaining 50%). Top ideas proceed to the live finale event in October.
What happens if I become a finalist?
The top 7-10 ideas will be finalists, attending a coaching event at Mid-Plains Community College and promoting their ideas before the October finale. Finalists must attend the coaching & live event to be eligible to win. NEW in 2024: finalists will also be required to meet with a business coach one-on-one from the area to work through their business plan / model.
How are the final winners chosen?
During the finale, the top business idea creators will present to judges and the audience in a 5-minute Q&A session. The judges will choose the top 5 candidates. After the top 5 are announced, the public will vote and judges will vote. The combined vote will determine who wins 1st, 2nd and 3rd in both community and youth categories.
What's a voting ticket and who gets one?
Every attendee at the Big Idea North Platte Contest Event in October receives a voting ticket. They must hear all contestants before voting. Each person gets one vote to each category; community and youth.
Who attends the final event?
The top contestants must attend, and friends, family, and the community are encouraged to join. More support from family and friends increases a contestant's chances if they reach the Top 5.
How are prizes awarded?
The contest features both an adult and youth category, each with its own set of prizes.
Prizes are as follows;
For the adult category: First Place - $10,000; Second Place - $5,000; Third Place - $2,500.
For the youth category (for winners aged 18 or under) scholarships to Mid-Plains Community College will be awarded. First Place - $2,500 scholarship; Second Place - $1,500 scholarship; Third Place - $1,000 scholarship. Scholarships are redeemable at all MPCC campuses. Based on their age, contestants will be automatically placed into the appropriate category. Based on their age, contestants will be automatically placed into the appropriate category. Prize money will be awarded after the judging event, and winners must complete appropriate paperwork for payment, which may take up to 14 days to receive once processed by the North Platte Chamber and Development Payable Department.
Sponsorships
North Platte is a unique community on the cusp of major growth. With over $2 BILLION annually in economic development projects on the verge of breaking grounds, our community is bustling and we have movers and shakers ready to do something BIG.
A strong entrepreneur system is key to making sure our ecosystem remains strong. Help us encourage others to THINK BIG. Support entrepreneurism by supporting Big Idea North Platte.
Platinum
$1,000-$2,999
Gold
$500-$999
Silver
$100-$499
(308) 532-4966
Meet Big Idea North Platte's Organizers
The mission of North Platte Young Professionals is to create and retain young leaders ages 21-40 in our community. NPYP aims to create strength in the workplace by developing individuals in a professional setting. NPYP members are invited to the monthly Power Hour, which is held every 2nd Thursday at noon at NebraskaLand Bank Main Branch as well as to the YP Networking Events, held periodically throughout the year (check Chamber calendar for dates and location).