HOW TO ENTER

Entering is easy and takes just minutes. In less than 1,000 words or in a short video you will have to provide some key business info, and answer four crucial questions about your business and plans for the future.

Answer the Following Questions

1. What does your business do?
2. How would you use the grant money?
3. What would the grant enable you to do that you can't now?
4. If Idea Cafe's Grant helps your biz reach greater success,
how will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?

FOR VIDEO APPLICATIONS

Upload your 2-minute video to YouTube. After creating your video, you will have to upload it on YouTube, and after that to complete our entry form.

The entrepreneurs who are ready to put some extra time to create a video pitch will get in return some extra exposure for their business. Their videos will be featured on Idea Cafe small-business Facebook page and our YouTube channel. Plus, selected videos will be featured on the Idea Café Home page and blog, where we will encourage our readers to offer feedback and suggestions.

In addition, we are looking for an entrepreneur with both a strong business idea and video skills to blog about the start-up journey, the ups and downs of running a new business. If we like your pitch video, you will be considered for a regular blogging slot.

Make Your Video Rock

Keep it short

Create an original video, 2 minutes or less. Do something imaginative

Show your business in action

Do you have a product? We want to see it. Is it a service? Give us a demonstration. Do you have an office or employees? That might be interesting to show, too. Voters prefer to get a real sense of your business, not just a video of you talking about it.

Practice!

Rehearse your script or pitch at least a few times before you hit "record."

Rules & Timeline