Planting local business ideas

If you've got a great idea for a local business and are looking for a little seed money to get started, you're the perfect applicant for the annual Seed Your Startup competition, which is currently accepting applications.

Seed Your Startup is your chance to snag a formal mentorship and an entrepreneurial grant worth $5,000.

BizInc., the student business incubator at Western University and Fanshawe College, and Western's Student Success Centre have teamed up to hold the business pitch contest once again.

BizInc. will be providing support to participants throughout the contest, including holding a preliminary pitch workshop to assist finalists in polishing their pitch.

After making it through the first rounds of the contest, participants will present their ideas at a simulated funding meeting to a panel of entrepreneurs and business leaders on April 11. The winner will receive funding, support from BizInc. and a mentorship.

You must be a current Fanshawe or Western student to apply, and you must be pitching an idea for a London, Ontario-based business. Applications are being accepted until March 15 at 9 a.m. — send your application to samantha@bizinc.ca.

Full details for submissions can be found at tinyurl.com/SYS2013doc. More information about Seed Your Startup can be found at success.uwo.ca/general/features/seed_your_startup.