OK entrepreneurs, here’s your chance to win a $50,000 grant! Comerica Bank and Hatch Detroit announce the return of The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest. The 2016 contest includes an expanded benefits package for the $50,000 grand prize winner, as well as additional support for entrepreneurs and Hatch Alumni. Comerica is more than doubling its commitment for the contest, investing more than $125,000 to help launch even more small business successes in Detroit and help ensure the success of current Hatch Alumni.
In this episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff interviews Vittoria Katanski, executive director of Hatch Detroit, and Janice Tessier, vice president, manager of corporate contributions and president ofComerica Charitable Foundation. The two provide valuable tips and share what they are looking for as judges. Later in the show, Jeff interviews two previous Hatch Detroit winners, Stephen Roginson from Batch Brewery and Elias Khalil, owner of La Feria.
Stephen and Elias delve into what they did to make their businesses stand out and win their grants. During the show, we discovered that even if you lose, you win. If you put forth the effort and follow the guidelines of the contest, you will have successfully written a business plan, scrutinized your business model and put together and executed a full-fledged marketing campaign. If you’re going to put forth the effort, might as well enter!
Every good entrepreneur likes deadlines, so here are your key dates for this business-changing contest:
Submission Period: Monday, May 2 to Friday, July 15
Submission Sample Drop Off Days: July 12, 14, 15: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Top 10 Primary Candidates Announced: Thursday, August 11
VOTING PRIMARY PERIOD: August 12 to August 18
Top 4 Candidates Announced: Friday, August 19 at noon
GENERAL ELECTION VOTING PERIOD: August 19 to August 26
Hatch Off Pitch and Winner Announced: August 26
Good luck, and remember to check back at StartupNation.com to find everything you need to start, manage and grow your business!
