Innovate ND enters phase two

Sixty seven teams from North Dakota, Minnesota and Utah are entering round two of the Innovate ND competition. The business ideas submitted cover a broad range of industries including manufacturing, information technology, services and internet-based businesses.

In the second phase of the program, participants will work to refine their ideas by transforming their initial two-page executive summary into a more inclusive idea plan.

Jeff Stamp of the UND Center for Innovation designed the Innovate ND curriculum.

"The ideas submitted in the competition are very imaginative and creative," Stamp said. "The challenge will be turning these concepts into businesses that can be sustainable and competitive in the marketplace. That's what investors are interested in."

Innovate ND is geared toward helping participants refine their ideas, ultimately determining how an idea can fit into the marketplace, provide net buyer benefit and deliver financial gain to the owners and investors.

The curriculum is delivered via the internet. More than 50 podcasts for participants are scheduled throughout the competition covering a broad list of ideas such as "The Entrepreneurial Mindset," "The Four Laws of Opportunity," "Read your Market" and "Finance Your Dream."

Participants will submit a more inclusive round two idea plan by March 10. The top 20 entrepreneur idea plans will then move on to the last round. Participants will present their final written idea plan and oral presentations at the Innovate ND Finals May 14, in Fargo. The final competition is being held in conjunction with the Midwest Association of Angel and Venture Capital Conference.

Awards and prizes will be presented at a reception and banquet May 15. Any new businesses launched by Innovate ND participants will receive ongoing technical assistance from the UND Center for Innovation staff and local hosts through the end of the year.

Innovate ND is a new statewide economic development initiative designed to help entrepreneurs turn business ideas into functional businesses. It is being coordinated by the Governor's Office, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, the UND Center of Innovation and the NDSU Research and Technology Park. The program is made possible by more than $200,000 in private sector contributions and in-kind donations. More information is available at www.innovatend.com.

SCORE sponsors business workshop

"Starting a Business - A Plan for Success" is scheduled for March 13 & 14, 2007 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM in the Manhattan Room of the Radisson Hotel, 605 East Broadway in Bismarck, this event is sponsored by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the US Small Business Administration (SBA). The workshop is open to existing and would-be entrepreneurs.

Local business professionals share their knowledge and expertise in the two evening, six-hour seminar. Tuesday evening, March 13, will feature presentations on Business Planning by Fay Behm from SBA; Record Keeping & Accounting by Duane Sorby, SCORE volunteer. Pam Schmidt from SIA Marketing will wrap up the first evening with a presentation on Marketing & Advertising. Topics discussed on Wednesday, March 14, include Financing your Business presented by Leo Gefroh from Northland Financial; Rollin Mehloff of Vaaler Insurance will provide a segment on Business Insurance. The training will conclude with a panel discussion on Buying or Selling a Business featuring Suzy Shook from Aladdin Realty and Annette Behm Caldwell from Open Road Honda.

The Service Corps of Retired Executives is a volunteer organization that is dedicated to helping the small business community through no-fee mentoring and business counseling. They work in partnership with the SBA to promote the growth and success of small business owners across North Dakota.

Call 328-5861 for information on to register. Pre-registration is requested due to limited space. There will be a charge for the materials.

Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association holds annual conference

The North Dakota Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association will be holding their 36th Annual Conference in Mandan, ND, at the Best Western Seven Seas Inn & Conference Center. The dates for the conference are March 29-31, 2007. The theme of the conference will be "Driver Education in a Time of Change: Many Opportunities and Challenges."

Many experts in their field will be presenting. The main presenter will be Dale O. Ritzel, Ph.D., professor of health education, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. Dale has been an ADTSEA member for many years and has presented at ADTSEA Conferences along with many Annual State Conferences. Graduate credit will be available at a nominal fee. For more information contact Larry Nagel, President, HCR1 - Box 11, Shields, ND 58569. He can be reached at 701-597-3730 or you can email larryn@westriv.com. The website will answer many of your questions and can be reached at: www.minotstateu.edu/drivered/nddtsea/

For more information, contact the Larry Nagel at (701) 597-3730 or larryn@westriv.com