Rhode Island Business Plan Competition Welcomes Cox Business as Top-Level Sponsor
PROVIDENCE ??? The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition (RIBPC), New England???s leading community supported business plan competition, announced that Cox Business, a premier provider of voice, data, video, and security solutions for businesses, has become a top-level sponsor of the 2018 competition.
“We’re delighted to welcome Cox Business as a Pillar sponsor, and look forward to working with them to advance Rhode Island as a place that’s especially hospitable to growing companies,” said Peter Lowy, RIBPC executive director.
Ross Nelson, vice president of Cox Business, based in West Warwick, said, “Our partnership with the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition is a natural fit in furthering our commitment to the startup and entrepreneurial community.”
Cox Business sponsors the annual Get Started Rhode Island business pitch competition. Last fall, Tvar EdTech, the student track winner of the 2017 RIBPC competition, won the Get Started Rhode Island competition.
The 2018 Rhode Island Business Plan Competition expects to award prizes valued at $200,000 when winners are announced in May. Complete information is available at www.ri-bizplan.com
Sponsors of the 2018 Competition
The RIBPC is supported by private companies, professional service providers, foundations, colleges and universities, public agencies, investors, banks ??? and previous participants.
Lead sponsors of the 2018 Competition are Bryant University, Cox Business, Everhope Foundation, Hinckley Allen, Integrated Media Group, KLR, Materials Science Associates, MedMates, and Sprout.
Also sponsoring the 2018 Competition are Bank of America, Barlow, Josephs & Holmes, Ltd., Betaspring, Brown University Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, Center for Women and Enterprise, Envision Technology Advisors, FM Global, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at CCRI, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Hatch Entrepreneurial Center, Luminous, Roger Williams University, Social Enterprise Greenhouse, Tech Collective, and University of Rhode Island College of Business Administration.
Additional sponsors include AAA Northeast, Bank Rhode Island, BankNewport, The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, Business Development Company, Cherrystone Angel Group, Citizens Bank, Classic Hassocks, CVS Health, Deepwater Wind, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, Dimeo Construction Company, Fidelity Investments, Hayes & Sherry Real Estate Services, The Hilb Group of New England, The Idea Turbine, InsureMyTrip, Johnson & Wales University, The Moore Company, Navigant Credit Union, Newport Biodiesel, Pawtucket Credit Union, Richard Carriere, Savings Institute Bank and Trust, Slater Technology Fund, StormTree, Teknor Apex, and The Washington Trust Company.
About the Competition
Established in 2000, the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition has been recognized as one of the top 40 business plan competitions in the country. To date, it has awarded more than $2.3 million in prizes to developing companies across many industries.
The Competition is free and open to everyone age 18 or over whether or not they already have started a business.
Complete information, including rules, application procedures, guidelines, and business plan resources, is available at www.ri-bizplan.com