LOWELL (CBS) – The first ever Merrimack Valley Sandbox Showdown pitch contest is Thursday night at UMass-Lowell.
Co-executive director David Parker tells WBZ NewswRadio 1030 ten aspiring entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas to a panel of celebrity judges and an audience. The winner gets $10,000.
READ MORE: Body Believed To Be Missing Five-Year-Old Elijah Lewis Found In AbingtonWBZ NewsRadio 1030’s Jeff Brown reports
Parker says the contest got underway several months ago with more than 200 entries. Through a series of pitches, that number has been whittled down to the finalists. Being a new organization, Merrimack Valley Sandbox has just started reaching into the community, encouraging people to come forward with ideas.
READ MORE: 'Mecca Of Rowing': Head Of The Charles Regatta Participants Grateful For Event's ReturnAs WBZ New England Business has reported, serial entrepreneur Desh Deshpande helped create the program and is the man behind the award money. This ceremony is a precursor to a three-month accelerator program coming this winter.
Parker says it’s a great way to take an idea and make a business out of it. He says hopefully down the road, these businesses will eventually hire people and be good for the economy.
MORE NEWS: Boston Mayoral Candidates Hit The Streets On First Day Of Early VotingThe public is invited to the entrepreneur showdown at UMass-Lowell. It starts at 6 p.m.
