For the City Times

MADISON – The 19th annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest is accepting entries online for the 2022 competition through Jan. 31 at 5 p.m.

Over a dozen veterans have made it to the finalist rounds of the Governor’s Business Plan Contest in recent years, including a category winner in the 2016 competition: Nick Mastronardi, a former Air Force officer, won the Information Technology category with POLCO, a civic engagement platform in widespread use across the United States today.

A free webinar on how to prepare to enter the contest will be held Jan. 19 at https://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/event/want-to-win-the-governors-business-plan-contest-learn-ins-and-outs-at-jan-19-tech-council-webinar.

The contest is designed to encourage entrepreneurs in the startup stage of tech-based businesses in Wisconsin. It links up-and-coming entrepreneurs with a statewide network of community resources, expert advice and mentoring, management talent and possible sources of capital.

For their initial entries, contestants will submit a 250-word idea abstract online at govsbizplancontest.com. That’s where contestants will also find business plan templates and other information, networking contacts and technical resources.

Since its inception in 2004, nearly 4,300 entries have been received and about $2.5 million in cash and services have been awarded.