GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network is looking for entrepreneurs to participate in its “Growth Accelerator Program.”

The initiative is designed to identify and help companies that will create jobs and contribute to the economic development of the region.

To participate, entrepreneurs must submit executive summaries of business concepts by Nov. 12. Ten plans will be selected to advance to the next round of the competition. Three winners will be selected next May.

Winning summaries will be selected on business concept, potential for growth, sustainable competitive advantage and national/global target market.

The 10 finalists will receive scholarships to attend the FastTrac TechVenture program.

The three winners will receive a variety of cash and services as listed by PTEN:

  • $30,000 in cash paid in $10,000 installations upon completion of agreed upon milestones
  • Free incubator or “wet lab hotel” space for a period of one year
  • $5,000 in in-kind donations from a select group of accounting and law firms
  • Introductions to angel fund executives at Inception Micro Angel Fund (IMAF), Piedmont Angel Network (PAN), as well as NC IDEA and venture capital firms in North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia
  • Participation in an annual PTEN “road show,” giving presentations to business leaders and prospective investors at events such as PTEN’s Capital Connects!
  • Public relations assistance and inclusion in PTEN marketing and public relations materials
  • Free admission to all PTEN events and courses

    • To enter the PTEN program, send a three- to five-page executive summary as a Microsoft Word attachment to jobermeyer@pten.org

    For more guidelines, see: www.pten.org