Smith School Announces Semi-finalists in $45K China Business Plan Competition

Twenty aspiring Chinese entrepreneurs are one step closer to building the businesses of their dreams. The Robert H. Smith School of Business announced the semi-finalists of the Robert H. Smith School of Business China Business Plan Competition at the Zero2IPO semi-annual Venture Capital Conference in Beijing on July 14, 2005. The entrants were judged on criteria that included their business plan feasibility, clarity, conciseness, value proposition and competitive positioning.

The competition is organized by the Smith Schools Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship to help promote the development of business opportunities within China, with an emphasis on supporting Chinese entrepreneurship. The competition is open to teams of two to four individuals, and rules stipulate that entries must support a business model with employees based in China, and products or services to be sold in the China marketplace.

The Smith School is making a significant contribution to further developing the China pool of world-class managers with its executive MBA programs in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as its successful custom executive programs in China, said Howard Frank, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Entrepreneurship represents a significant cornerstone of the digital economy and the Smith School is bringing this opportunity to help further Chinese-grown ideas and businesses.

Approximately 50 entries were submitted for the competition and were judged on an executive summary that outlined their proposed business. Entries covered a wide spectrum of business ideas that closely mirrored areas of growth and opportunity in the Chinese economy including ideas for auto, pharmaceutical, travel, online and mobile business models.

The quality of ideas in China is impressive, said Asher Epstein, managing director of the Smith Schools Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. The Smith School has a great deal of success promoting entrepreneurship in the United States and we are extremely pleased to play a role in assisting a future generation of business leaders here in China.

On September 1, the group will be narrowed to 10 finalists who will have the chance to win US$45,000 during a final round of competition to be held on September 23, 2005.

For the final stage of the competition each finalist will make a 15-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute question and answer session in front of judges. The judges for the final round will include representatives of leading venture capital firms including Mahon China Investment Management Limited, China Equity, Siemens China Investments and Intel Capital. The winners will receive a US$25,000 grand prize, US$15,000 second prize and US$5,000 third prize.

The Smith School in China
The Smith Schools presence in China is part of a strategy to build innovative global alliances that address the rapidly changing requirements of the worlds business education marketplace. The Smith School is helping China meet a critical need for MBA graduates and world-class business leadership by delivering its leading executive MBA programs in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as through its successful custom executive programs in China. A unique partnership with ChinaCast Communications Holdings allows the Smith School to deliver executive programs well beyond Chinas largest cities via satellite technology.

About ZERO2ipo
Founded in 1999, Zero2IPO is the most recognized brand in the financial information and advisory services for Private Equity and High-Growth Enterprises in China. It currently has about 40 professionals providing Financial Information Services (FIS), Financial Advisory Services (FAS) and Investor Relationship Services (IRS). The annual Zero2IPO-China Venture Capital Forum (CVCF) and China Venture Capital Report have become the most authoritative and influential industry benchmark in China. Zero2IPO is now the leading information and advisory service provider for the Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Hi-Growth Enterprises in China.