Nominations are being extended to November 22nd! The following information is excerpts taken from the Take an Entrepreneur packet (PDF). What could you learn, given the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes and understand the mind of a successful entrepreneur? To go where they've gone. To hear first-hand the business challenges they've experienced. The Take an Entrepreneur to Lunch initiative, sponsored by the Action Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence, in conjunction with the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization is that kind of opportunity. It's designed to put you face-to-face with someone who has succesfully made the journey of entrepreneurship, and done it in a way that makes him or her a hero. The initiative has four steps: Identify an entrepreneur who has qualities you greatly admire Schedule a 30-minute meeting Interview this entrepreneur Submit an entrepreneurial hero nomination Once all nominations have been collected, 25 individuals will be named semi-finalists and selected to create a short story (written or video) about their nominee. Semi-finalists will receive a $150 stipend toward attending the national CEO conference in November or education expenses. Three winners will have their stories published, and receive an expenses-paid invitation to attend the 2009 Acton Entrepreneurial Journey Summit in Austin, Texas, including meetings with angel funders and venture capitalists. Lastly, each finalist will be asked to decide, along with the entrepreneur they nominated, what charity will receive a $5,000 donation given in both the student’s and entrepreneur’s name.
Nominations are being extended to November 22nd!
The following information is excerpts taken from the Take an Entrepreneur packet (PDF).
What could you learn, given the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes and understand the mind of a successful entrepreneur? To go where they've gone. To hear first-hand the business challenges they've experienced.
The Take an Entrepreneur to Lunch initiative, sponsored by the Action Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence, in conjunction with the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization is that kind of opportunity.
It's designed to put you face-to-face with someone who has succesfully made the journey of entrepreneurship, and done it in a way that makes him or her a hero.
The initiative has four steps:
Once all nominations have been collected, 25 individuals will be named semi-finalists and selected to create a short story (written or video) about their nominee. Semi-finalists will receive a $150 stipend toward attending the national CEO conference in November or education expenses. Three winners will have their stories published, and receive an expenses-paid invitation to attend the 2009 Acton Entrepreneurial Journey Summit in Austin, Texas, including meetings with angel funders and venture capitalists. Lastly, each finalist will be asked to decide, along with the entrepreneur they nominated, what charity will receive a $5,000 donation given in both the student’s and entrepreneur’s name.
CEO Chapter Awards For each 10 complete nominations received from each CEO chapter, the chapter will win a $250 stipend to help pay for students to attand the national CEO conference in November or for other chapter activities. Semi-Finalist Awards By October 6, 2008, CEO and the Acton Foundation will select 25 semi-finalists. Criteria for selecting semi-finalists will be: Did the nomination describe at least one internal or external challenge the entrepreneur succesfully overcame? Did the nomination briefly describe how the entrepreneur gives back to the community and serves others? Did the nomination briefly describe what you found most inspirational about the entrepreneur? Did the nomination briefly describe the most interesting thing you learned during the interview (about the entrepreneur, about entrepreneurship or possibly even an insight you gained about yourself or life)? The 25 semi-finalists will be invited to create a short story that captures the heroic spirit of the entrepreneur they interviewed. These stories may be written (400 to 600 words) or submitted by video (2 to 4 minutes in length, under 15MB in size and formatted to .avi, .mov or .mpeg format). Semi-finalist stories need to be submitted to hero@actonfoundation.org no later than October 24, 2008. Acton will share these stories with the entrepreneur as a way to honor them and them them for the time they spent with you. Upon submission of the final story, each semi-finalist will receive a stipend of $150 to attend the CEO Conference in November, or for educational expenses.
For each 10 complete nominations received from each CEO chapter, the chapter will win a $250 stipend to help pay for students to attand the national CEO conference in November or for other chapter activities.
By October 6, 2008, CEO and the Acton Foundation will select 25 semi-finalists. Criteria for selecting semi-finalists will be:
The 25 semi-finalists will be invited to create a short story that captures the heroic spirit of the entrepreneur they interviewed. These stories may be written (400 to 600 words) or submitted by video (2 to 4 minutes in length, under 15MB in size and formatted to .avi, .mov or .mpeg format). Semi-finalist stories need to be submitted to hero@actonfoundation.org no later than October 24, 2008. Acton will share these stories with the entrepreneur as a way to honor them and them them for the time they spent with you.
Upon submission of the final story, each semi-finalist will receive a stipend of $150 to attend the CEO Conference in November, or for educational expenses.
Three winners will be chosen by CEO and the Acton Foundation. Entries will be judged on how compelling and inspiring the short story is in its telling of some heroic aspect of the entrepreneur. Winning stories will be used and widely shared across the country (with the entrepreneur's permission) during Global Entrepreneurship Week to inspire others. Each student will be recognized for discovering an entrepreneurial hero. Winners will also be asked to decide, along with the entrepreneur they nominated, what charity will receive a $5,000 donation given by Acton in both the student's and entrepreneur's names to the charity of their choice. Another way to say thanks and be remembered kindly by the entrepreneur. Winners will then be invited to an all-expenses-paid trip to Austin for the 2009 Acton Entrepreneurial Journey Summit, a meeting of aspiring and successful entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and insights on how to succeed on the entrepreneurial journey. At the Summit, winners will have an opportunity to meet with angel funders and venture capitalists to ask questions and gain insights about launching a business.
Three winners will be chosen by CEO and the Acton Foundation. Entries will be judged on how compelling and inspiring the short story is in its telling of some heroic aspect of the entrepreneur.
Winning stories will be used and widely shared across the country (with the entrepreneur's permission) during Global Entrepreneurship Week to inspire others. Each student will be recognized for discovering an entrepreneurial hero.
Winners will also be asked to decide, along with the entrepreneur they nominated, what charity will receive a $5,000 donation given by Acton in both the student's and entrepreneur's names to the charity of their choice. Another way to say thanks and be remembered kindly by the entrepreneur.
Winners will then be invited to an all-expenses-paid trip to Austin for the 2009 Acton Entrepreneurial Journey Summit, a meeting of aspiring and successful entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and insights on how to succeed on the entrepreneurial journey. At the Summit, winners will have an opportunity to meet with angel funders and venture capitalists to ask questions and gain insights about launching a business.
