Ogden City has added an out-of-state category and another $20,000 in prize money to its “Concept to Company” contest, which aims to draw outdoor recreation start-ups to the Utah city. When the city launched the contest July 1, it restricted entries to in-state entrepreneurs. But after receiving strong interest from outside the state, the city created a new category and added a second $20,000 grand prize.
The applications will be judged by a panel of 15 judges, including employees from nearby companies Black Diamond, Descente, GOODE, Petzl and Rossignol. About 20 contestants have already submitted applications focused on skiing, snowboarding, cycling, climbing, hiking, paddling, and other non-motorized, non-fishing or non-hunting sports. Applications must be submitted by Aug. 30.
The winners will be announced on Sept. 27th. The contest is open to individual inventors or to businesses with less than $5 million in annual revenues. The idea or invention must not yet be on the market and must have no sales revenue.
