Cox Business and Inc. Magazine Offer Local Start-Ups Chance to Win Technology and Media Prize Package at "Get Started Tulsa"

TULSA, Okla., July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Business and Inc. Magazine are presenting Get Started Tulsa, a business pitch competition, Wednesday, August 19, at the Cox Business Center in Tulsa, OK. Registration is now open for both attendees and pitch contestants at www.CoxBlue.com/GetStartedTulsa.  Local partners include the Tulsa World, 36 Degrees North, JD Young and Cox Media.  Get Started Tulsa will highlight up to five entrepreneurs who will pitch their ideas to a distinguished panel of experts.  One winner will be named and will receive a prize package valued at more than $10,000 which includes a $5,000 cash prize, Cox Business technology package*, a digital advertising package from Cox Media and additional prizes from our local partners to drive business success. 

Individuals and businesses not competing are invited to attend this free event for networking and learning opportunities from accomplished leaders in marketing, funding and business growth strategy. The networking kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and spots are available to attend the live, free event.  Registration is available at www.coxblue.com/getstartedtulsa.

Moderated by Joe Fine, Executive Editor, Inc. Magazine, the expert panel will include Jill Donovan, founder, Rustic Cuff; Howard Barnett, President, Oklahoma State University in Tulsa; Scott Meacham, president & CEO of i2E, Inc., and former Oklahoma State Treasurer.  Each panelist is designed to bring a unique expertise to ensure finalists receive advice in many aspects of starting a business.

"Cox Business is dedicated to supporting the development of new small and medium-sized businesses and inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit in our local communities," said Chris Shipman, sales director for Cox Business in Tulsa.  "We're looking forward to an exciting event celebrating entrepreneurs in the region and awarding one local entrepreneur a prize package of tools to grow a successful new business in our community."

Businesses or individuals interested in pitching business ideas to the panel can visit www.CoxBlue.com/GetStartedTulsa to enter and to view the official rules.  Applicants must provide a 250 words or less description of the proposed product or service pitch.  All entries must be received by 11:59p.m. on August 4, 2015.  Cox Business will select up to five finalists who will present their pitches live the evening of August 19, 2015.  Entrants will be notified no later than August 10, 2015 if they are selected to pitch in the live event.

Finalists will have two minutes to pitch their business idea to the expert panel and will receive immediate feedback.  The panelists will then determine the best pitch and winner of the contest based on innovation, ease of implementation and the benefit it brings to the local community.

Get Started Tulsa will begin at 5:30pm with networking and will include food, drinks and an unforgettable educational opportunity for local businesses. An interactive Q&A will take place with the expert panel and live audience immediately following the pitches.

Nationally-recognized technology enthusiast and small business advocate Sara Evan, owner of new media consultancy Sevans Strategy, will attend the event serving as digital correspondent across social media platforms. Sara serves as a digital correspondent for brands including PayPal, Cisco, Walmart, Transitions lenses and Cox Communications.

This is the fourteenth in the Get Started series by Cox Business and Inc. Magazine nationwide.  Other past winners from events across the country include ScanMed QR in Get Started OKC, Fusion Cross-Media in Get Started Connecticut, Post-Op Top in Get Started Orange County and Care Technology, LLC in the Get Started Rhode Island competition.

About Cox Business
Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 330,000 small and regional businesses, including healthcare providers, K-12 and higher education, financial institutions and federal, state and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division. According to Vertical Systems Group, Cox Business is one of the largest providers of business Ethernet services in the U.S. based on customer ports and has been consistently recognized for its leadership among small/midsize business data service providers. Cox is currently the seventh largest voice service provider in the U.S. and supports one million phone lines. For more information about Cox Business, Click Here or call 1-800-396-1609.

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 10 times, including the last nine years. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

About Inc.
Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today's innovative company builders.  Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 7,000,000 today.  For more information, visit http://www.inc.com/.

*Location must be serviceable in the Cox Business Tulsa market.

SOURCE Cox Business