The Competition: Overview

The competition is an annual (2 semester) process that begins by entering a Letter of Intent. A notification of acceptance leads to workshops, plan submissions, finalist selection, presentation to the judges, and finally the recognition and awards banquet. However, that is only the beginning.

The first, second and third place teams receive cash awards and mentoring from business leaders and other successful entrepreneurs. In addition, the first place team will receive office space, an automobile, logo and business cards, and immediately begin working with an experienced group of venture capitalists, marketers, lawyers and insurance advisors—so that, potentially, over the course of a year a successful business is developed and launched.

In the coming years, Project Springboard will expand from a local competition to  one that attracts talented entrepreneurs from a regional area. A significant focus of this expansion will be to ensure that the new businesses that benefit from the incredible support of our sponsors will continue to grow while remaining based in Peoria. We're confident that the new entities that emerge from this competition will represent some of Peoria's most talented people and successful businesses.