Microsoft Picks Entrepreneurs' Brains for Big Idea

Microsoft Corp. is conducting a nationwide search for the most creative small-business idea in the country.

Microsoft is rewarding a big idea for a small business in an Ultimate Challenge contest

The contest, called the Ultimate Challenge, lives at IdeaWins.com and is designed to spur the imagination and spirit of entrepreneurism that drives small businesses, and to support Microsoft's recent launch of its Office Accounting Express 2007 products, a financial management tool.

The winner will receive $100,000 in business startup money, free rent on a Manhattan-area storefront for one year, and infrastructure and software to help run the business.

To support the contest, Microsoft will deploy an Ultimate Challenge Van, an RV tour that begins its journey in Times Square on Nov. 28 and makes stops in Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago and Atlanta through January. Consumers can submit their applications and meet Microsoft representatives at tour stops. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31, 2007.

A three-judge panel will review submissions based on marketing approach, financial and logistic feasibility, originality, and public interest. Each category will have a point value of 25 points, and the total will determine the final score. Four finalists with the highest scores will be announced in February. Their submissions will then be reviewed by the judges with a new scoring section—a vote from the public via IdeaWins.com worth 25 points. The winner will be chosen in March.

"We know there are lots of great ideas out there from people just waiting to start their own business, and we want to make their dream come true," said Rajat Taneja, general manager of small business applications and services, Redmond, WA-based Microsoft. "The idea behind this contest is to galvanize entrepreneurs into action and make sure they have the right tools...to translate their vision into reality."

Online materials support the initiative.

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