Aspiring entrepreneurs will vie for a minimum of $10,000 in start-up money in a new competition organized by MBA students at the University of California, Davis. The "Big Bang" competition will be officially launched 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at a reception at the University Club on campus. It will culminate in late April when finalist teams present their plans for a new business before a panel of venture capitalists and a public audience. Students in the Graduate School of Management have designed the competition to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and hands-on learning and will offer a series of workshops to help competitors craft business plans based on marketable ideas. The competition is open to teams with at least one UC Davis student or graduate. "We established this contest for students, the university and the growing venture community in the region served by UC Davis," says K.C. Kanaan, co-chair of the competition and a student in the MBA program for Working Professionals. "We know there are great ideas on campus, and innovators who can make them take shape with the right motivation, support and proper guidance," he adds. "We are pleased to be able to support the students running this competition," says Robert Smiley, dean of the Graduate School of Management. "We were impressed with the committed support of the competition's judges, including representatives of Accel Partners, Intel Capital, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, Sofinnova Ventures and other well-known venture firms. "The engagement and financial support of local sponsors helps ensure the viability of this enterprise as it now moves from planning to action," he says. A total of 24 firms are providing financial sponsorship, leading workshops, grooming the teams or judging the competition. The Oct. 19 kick-off event will welcome potential competitors. Also attending will be experienced venture capitalists, successful entrepreneurs and innovators who will pitch their current start-ups and offer advice. Competitors must submit executive summaries of their business plans by Jan. 26, and qualifiers will be asked to submit complete business plans by March 15. Following a review of the business plans, seven teams will be selected to make half-hour presentations before judges on April 25 and before a public audience on April 26. Judges, who will select the first- and second-place winners, have been asked to evaluate the summaries, plans and presentations as they would for ventures funded by their firms. The audience at the final event will select the third-place winner. Together, the three prizes will total $10,000 or more. Information on forming and registering a team, a list of venture capitalist judges and sponsors, and guidelines for success in funding new ventures is available on the "Big Bang" Web site at http://bigbang.gsm.ucdavis.edu/.