Russell Simmons’ Creative BPlan Contest

Entrepreneur Russell Simmons understands the spiky nature of the creative economy and has launched a new creative industries, ‘bplan like’ contest called the The Race to Be: The Creative Entrepreneurship Contest. The event is the centerpiece of this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (Nov. 17- Nov. 23)

The contest has three categories: film, fashion, and music. Applications can be submitted online and the finals of each categories will take place on site in spikes of industry/artistic excellence: film in LA, music in Austin, and fashion in NY. From the contest website:

The competition targets 18 to 29 year olds interested in film, music and fashion who want to become young entrepreneurs. From Oct. 2 through Oct. 31, applicants may apply online at http://www.racetobeusa.com and submit a sample of an existing creative work to compete.

• Five finalists from each category will be selected from the online submissions and will bring their portfolio of completed creative work to the event where they will compete in an onsite challenge. Each genre’s competition will be held in its respective artistic center:

o Film – BE. The Story on November 17, Sony Pictures Studios, Los Angeles
o Music – BE. The Sound on November 19, Austin, Venue TBD
o Fashion – BE. The Style on November 21, New York Stock Exchange, New York

At each event, a panel of industry experts will serve as mentors and conduct a workshop focused on the importance of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in today’s business world. Each finalist will be paired with a mentor who will work with the individual to create an entrepreneurial concept and develop a marketing pitch for their work.

• At the end of the day, each finalist will present his or her work and make a “pitch” to the panel of judges. The judges will score each presentation in four categories: creative content, business viability, marketability, and the “it” factor.

• The winner of each competition will receive $5,000, a mentoring opportunity, possible internship and post-event PR exposure for their winning concept.

I have been researching business plan competitions for 4 years now and its amazing how the model has evolved and moved way beyond the campus.

This competition speaks directly to the creative economy and the creative class and while its cash prize doesn’t distinguish it; Russell Simmons, the categories & format, and the opportunities to network make it a special case. I, obviously, underscores the great on concentrations of talent that exist in our

Check out the application (deadline is Oct. 31) and share your great ideas or works in progress with Russell Simmons and the world during Global Entrepreneurship Week. Good luck!