Application Period Opens for First Park County Start-Up Challenge

IMPACT Park County has kicked off the inaugural Park County Start-Up Challenge with the opening of the application period Jan. 30. This starts the annual tradition of a challenge to promote and encourage entrepreneurship in the Big Horn Basin.

Applicants will compete for a portion of about $50,000 in seed capital funding.

IMPACT 307 is a business development program of the University of Wyoming’s Office of Research and Economic Development. It is a not-for-profit business incubator system that provides startup and early-stage companies with the expertise, networks and tools necessary for the development of successful businesses.

The free application for the Park County Start-Up Challenge is simple and straightforward. Interested entrepreneurs answer a few questions describing their business ideas, products or services; the markets they plan to serve; and why they believe customers will opt for their offerings over other options available to them. A link to the online application tool can be found at www.impact307.org.

Applications will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 24. A panel of community judges, many of them entrepreneurs, will select the top 10 for a semifinal round. Five finalists will be chosen to work with IMPACT Park County to further develop their plans and prepare a presentation for Pitch Night, which will be held Thursday, April 6, in Cody.

For more information, call John Wetzel at (307) 272-0085 or email jwetzel2@uwyo.edu.