The InNOLEvation Challenge
The Jim Moran Institute Business Plan Competition

The Florida State University Business Plan Competition is one of the world’s largest collegiate business plan competitions. The InNOLEvation Challenge is unique among the major collegiate competitions in that it is open to undergraduate as well as graduate students. The InNOLEvation Challenge is also uniquely open solely to current Florida State University students. The competition is hosted and organized by The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship and The Florida State University College of Business. This is the exciting, second year for the competition.

The competition is designed to give collegiate entrepreneurs with a “Big Idea” the opportunity to win the facilities, funding and mentoring to launch their dreams. Each team will be evaluated as real-world entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from early stage investors and venture capital firms. The judges will be asked to rank the competitors based on which company they would most likely invest.

The InNOLEvation Challenge is specifically designed to be a highly experiential learning experience with significant opportunities to interact with a broad sector of the investment community. We provide an unparalleled experience for the participants by designing a diverse program over the course of several months; with significant time designated for feedback and interaction with the judging panel.

Highlights of the Competition include:

Real-world opportunity to successfully launch a new business
Mentoring from a diverse set of business professionals including investors and experienced entrepreneurs
Opportunities to network with potential angel investors and venture capitalists
Exposure to a number of high caliber judges, all senior level investors and industry leaders
Opportunities to receive individual feedback throughout the competition
Up to $50,000 in cash prizes, plus a large number of in-kind services donated by corporate and private sponsors

About The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship

The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship in the College of Business at The Florida State University was established in 1995 through generous donations from automobile industry legend Jim Moran, his wife Jan, and JM Family Enterprises, Inc. and supplemented with a major grant from the State of Florida to create a fully-funded endowment and with additional funding from The Jim Moran Foundation. Its mission is to cultivate, train and inspire entrepreneurial leaders in the community through world-class education, leading-edge research and applied training, intensive consulting assistance and mentorship to entrepreneurs and business owners, and public recognition.

The dedicated staff of entrepreneurship professionals, academic scholars, and staff foster the entrepreneurship spirit by helping to organize, expand and promote the knowledge and practice of entrepreneurship in such a way as to facilitate new business and to further the goals of established businesses. Our faculty and staff provide students, faculty, aspiring entrepreneurs, and business owners the tools and expertise necessary to develop strategies that establish and sustain advantages for businesses in today’s competitive marketplace and to creatively pursue new opportunities and innovations involving the startup of new business ventures.

Through degree and certificate programs in entrepreneurship, outreach programs that reach across Florida and throughout the world, and complementary activities such as half-day workshops and a speaker series, The Jim Moran Institute currently serves more than 1,000 undergraduates and about 200 businesses each year.

About the Florida State University College of Business

Founded in 1950, the College of Business (http://www.cob.fsu.edu/) is one of the nation’s youngest business schools, yet it has become one of the 10 largest in the nation. With more than 5,642 students, the College boasts a distinguished full-time faculty of 99, including one Francis Eppes professor, seven eminent scholars, three university-named professors, 26 endowed professors and nine fellows. The College offers eight undergraduate degrees (BS) with ten majors, and the graduate program offers six master’s degree programs (MBA, MSF, MSM, MS in MIS, MSM in RMI and MAcc) and seven majors at the doctoral level (PhD). These academic majors are available through the College’s five departments, which include Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing and Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate & Legal Studies. The College also has one independent, industry-specific program, the Dedman School of Hospitality, which offers one undergraduate degree with two majors. The Dedman School of Hospitality has eight distinguished full-time faculty, which include four endowed professors. The College of Business is also home to 11 centers and institutes.

About Florida State University

One of the nation’s elite research universities, Florida State University — with the Carnegie Foundation’s highest designation, Doctoral/Research University-Extensive — offers a distinctive academic environment built on its cherished values and unique heritage, welcoming campus on the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida, championship athletics, and prime location in the heart of the state capital.

Combining traditional strength in the arts and humanities with recognized leadership in the sciences, Florida State University provides unmatched opportunities for students and faculty through challenging academics, cultural discovery and community interaction.