About the SpringBoardChallenge
The Springboard Ideas Challenge is a mini-business plan competition for the Abilene community and institutions of higher learning, with the mission of increasing the entrepreneurial spirit in the Abilene community. This competition fosters business growth at university and community levels by giving participants a chance to organize, direct and present a business idea to a panel of judges.
Springboard is hosted by the College of Business Administration at Abilene Christian University and is planned and directed by a committee comprised of both students and faculty at ACU. In its first two years, Springboard awarded $30,000 and $40,000 respectively in prize money to students, faculty, and community members.
This year, Springboard will accept submissions from the entire Abilene community, and will award $50,000 in prize money to assist entrepreneurs in the start-up process.
Springboard is the brainchild of James R. Porter, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at ACU, in an effort to increase the entrepreneurial drive and spirit not only on ACU’s campus, but across Abilene. Mr. Porter is a successful venture capitalist and executive brought to ACU to help establish its innovative Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy program.
Springboard is just one of the many ways that COBA is continuing to improve the economic outlook in Abilene and abroad by encouraging the community to think entrepreneurially.
The previous competitions exceeded expectations, and the Springboard 2010 Team is excited about the prospects for this coming year.
