Cox Business and Inc. Magazine Call for Contestants at Get Started NOLA

Savvy business owners invited to pitch at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week in exclusive competition

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Feb 25, 2015, 09:00 ET

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Start-ups, entrepreneurs and small business owners in Louisiana are invited to demonstrate their savvy business plan or new idea for feedback by a panel of judges including Lauren Thom of Fleurty Girl at Get Started New Orleans for a chance to win a $10,000 prize package. Get Started NOLA will take place during the 7^th annual New Orleans Entrepreneur Week on March 25 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at The Chicory on Fulton Street. Candidates interested in pitching their idea can apply now until March 6, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. CST at www.GetStartedNOLA.com. Those interested in attending as an audience member should register for New Orleans Entrepreneur Week at www.NOEW.org. Organizers are using the hashtag #GetStartedNOLA.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs with revenues less than $300k are invited to apply to pitch at Get Started NOLA through March 8.

"Get Started NOLA is a way for Cox Business and our partners to help promote innovative talent in our local business community," said Steve Rowley, senior vice president of Cox Business. "Not only will contestants be eligible to win a grand prize, but our panel of experts will provide valuable advice and success tips that will assist them in launching their business."

Participation in Get Started NOLA is open to five qualified contestants who will be given two and-a-half minutes each to pitch their idea in front of a live audience. A panel of four experts (i.e. judges) will follow-up with questions and observations. They include: Lauren Thom, founder & CEO of Fleurty Girl; Kris Frieswick, senior editor at Inc. Magazine; Chris Schultz, founder of VooDoo Ventures and Steve Rowley, senior vice president of Cox Business. The experts will review each of the plans and select a winner based on innovation, ease of implementation and consumer/community benefit.

The winning presentation will be awarded a prize package valued at up to $10,000 including cash and Cox Business services.

A 250 word description is required of those start-ups or business owners that want to apply. Businesses wishing to pitch must have earned under $300,000 in revenue in 2014. Entrants will be notified by Mar. 11 if they have been selected to pitch at the event. The five finalists will receive up to two coaching sessions each in advance of the event to prepare.

This is the eleventh event in the "Get Started" series from Cox Business and Inc. magazine. Winners of recent Get Started events include the following companies: ScanMed QR in Get Started Oklahoma City, Fusion Cross-Media in Get Started Connecticut, Post-Op Top in Get Started Orange County, Care Technology, LLC in Get Started Rhode Island, Travefy in Get Started Omaha, Scraps on Scraps in Get Started Tucson, Feedback LLC in Get Started NOVA, EM Shield in Las Vegas and Food 4 Good in Rhode Island.

About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and home security and automation services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and digital media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For eight years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity nine times, including the last eight years. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

ABOUT NEW ORLEANS ENTREPRENEUR WEEK:
New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), presented by IBERIABANK, is the annual festival celebrating business, innovation, and advanced thinking in New Orleans. Produced by The Idea Village, NOEW engages a dynamic global to support growing companies and elevate entrepreneurial successes through eight days of discussion, debate, education, competition, and celebration. This year, NOEW 2015 will take place March 20-27, 2015. For more information: www.NOEW.org

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SOURCE Cox Communications