Comcast Business Launches Competition For Start-ups And Entrepreneurs

By Edward Cardenas

SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) - Comcast Business is seeking entries from start-ups and entrepreneurs to compete for cash prizes in the Innovations 4 Entrepreneurs competition.

This is the second year Comcast has held the contest, which seeks the out the nation's most innovative start-up companies and entrepreneurs to compete for $30,000 to invest in technology to enhance their customer and employee experiences.

"The breadth of innovation and ideas are endless," said Randy Jones, Comcast spokesman. "We believe that smart, strategic use of technology can catapult a business to an entirely new level."

Those looking to enter can submit an application and 250-word essay explaining how they would use $30,000 in technology investment to enhance their business at business.comcast.com/i4E. Entries are due by March 15, 2015.

Winners in the inaugural contest included a women's clothing designer from Delaware, a healthcare management company from Maryland, a business video producer from California and a mobile pet grooming service from Texas.

A panel of judges will review the entries and select one  winner for startup companies (in business less than two years) and one winner for entrepreneurs (in business for more than two years) in each of the 16 Comcast business regions. The 32 regional winners will each earn $10,000 in cash.

Three start-ups and three entrepreneurs will be selected from the regional winners, and will earn an additional $20,000 in cash, plus a trip to Philadelphia and business advice from industry experts including Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine, Wharton entrepreneurship lecturer and DreamIt Ventures' Director Patrick Fitzgerald, Comcast Chief Development Officer Sam Schwartz, and Managing Director of Comcast Ventures Louis Toth.