Chamber competition puts $25,000 on the line

The Charlotte Chamber touted the launch of the 2013 Power Up Entrepreneurship Challenge at a luncheon Tuesday, detailing the competition that recognizes promising entrepreneurs and small businesses in the chamber.

The winner of the challenge gets a $25,000 grant from Duke Energy as well as a package of business services valued at more than $200,000, said Brett Carter, the Charlotte Chamber's Duke Energy Chair.

"This is a big deal for us," said Carter. "We believe this is a huge part of keeping our small businesses and entrepreneurs engaged in Charlotte."

Last year's winner was InfoSense, a company that uses patent-pending technology developed at UNC Charlotte to detect blockages in pipelines. The technology is now being used in 30 states around the U.S.

Applicants will compete within their regional chamber chapters, and the winner from each chapter will compete at the grand finale will be Nov. 14.

The winner will get: a $25,000 business grant from Duke Energy, a marketing support package from Boone Oakley, a legal support package, and a mentor from the chamber's board of directors.

Finalists will also get a package of business services.

Click here for the application and a calendar of upcoming Power Up events.

To participate in the challenge, companies must: 

• be a Charlotte Chamber member in good standing. 
• be a for-profit company. 
• have $1 million or less in total revenue for most recent fiscal year. 
• have a principal location in the 16-county Charlotte region.
• not be a franchise. 
• have a primary business focus in one or more of the following: energy, information technology/big data, health care, financial services, life sciences/medical devices, transportation/logistics, manufacturing, professional services, tourism/sports or creative.