Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: "$110,000 NewSpace 2012 Business Plan Competition Reaches Out to Nano- and Biotech Entrepreneurs"

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Abstract:
The Space Frontier Foundation http://spacefrontier.org/ is hosting its annual Business Plan Competition during its NewSpace 2012 Conference at NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, July 26-28, to help entrepreneurs creating NewSpace startups, and firms developing supporting, problem-solving, and game-changing technologies in support of the NewSpace industry.

$110,000 NewSpace 2012 Business Plan Competition Reaches Out to Nano- and Biotech Entrepreneurs

New York, NY | Posted on April 6th, 2012

As many as 10 Finalists will present their plans to a distinguished panel of judges, featuring venture capitalists, angel investors, and business development leaders, receiving professional feedback and exposure to the public, press, and investor community. The winner will receive a $100,000 Grand Prize funded by a grant from NASA/Ames. This grant has also funded a $10,000 Second Prize.

"In reaching out to nanotech and biotech entrepreneurs, we want to express the message that "space" is far more than rockets, spacecraft and supporting technology," said Thomas A. Olson, Competition Project Manager and Founding Partner of Exodus Consulting Group. "To make humanity a truly spacefaring species - to make human settlement of the space frontier a reality - many problems still need to be solved. Those solutions will need to come from nearly every technical industry and field of endeavor, nanotech and biotech chief among them."

The Competition is seeking entries from seed, startup, or early-growth firms from the following fields:

Entrepreneurial space: Those firms directly involved in launch systems hardware technology and supporting infrastructure, including data acquisition, communications, exotic fuels, space suits, flight safety, etc.

Space-related: Process engineering, power systems, bioregenerative systems, tourism, media, software, and other supportive solutions.

Space-scalable (New!): Technologies primarily developed to solve problems here on Earth for commercial benefit and profit, but are also scalable to solve key long range space problems when the demand ultimately exists, to help make the settlement of the space frontier a reality. This could include biotechnology, nanotechnology, medicine, radiation mitigation, smart materials, alternative energy, or next-gen IT hardware, among many other possibilities.

But regardless of niche, applicants must be able to explain why their product or service helps with the economic development of space.

This Competition wishes to assist and showcase new startup and expanding firms who can demonstrate both the ability to make money and contribute to the commercial development of space, advancing the NewSpace movement.

Entries must have at least 51% US-citizen ownership to qualify.

Companies wishing to participate are asked to submit an "Intent to Compete" http://newspacebpc.com/?page_id=23 by April 30th, 2012. 3-5 page Executive Summaries must be submitted by May 25th, 2012, in PDF format, to . Entries must adhere to the parameters outlined in the competition rules to be considered. Finalists will be announced publicly on June 11th. Companies selected to present at NewSpace 2012 will be required to arrive no later than 9AM Wednesday, July 25th for a 2-day "Boot-Camp" - including presentation dry-runs and practical guidance and mentoring from investors and business professionals. Final presentations in front of the judges will be on the morning of July 27th, with the winners announced the evening of Saturday, July 28th, at the NewSpace Gala.

"The dramatic growth of our business plan competition is a great source of pride for everyone involved," said Foundation Chairman Bob Werb. "Each year we have bigger prizes, more and better competitors and more prestigious judges. From its humble origins, the NewSpace Business Plan Competition has grown to be one of Earth's premier events of its kind in any field of endeavor."
NewSpace 2012 is a single-track conference focusing on entrepreneurial space activities. Sessions are intended not only to provide interesting presentations, but also to generate lively discussions among NewSpace entrepreneurs, established space industry leaders, NASA & military space experts, regulators, space policy advocates, the investment community, and anyone else who wants to ensure humanity has a bright and abundant future in the space frontier.

Information on the competition, including rules and the "Intent to Compete" online form, can be found here. http://newspacebpc.com/

Click here http://newspace.spacefrontier.org/ for information and registration for the NewSpace 2012 conference.