Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition Offering $1,000 For Best 140 Character New Business Idea Submitted on Twitter

DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition today announced the second annual 140 Character Twitter Contest, inviting companies and individuals following the @AccelerateMI Twitter handle to present their “best” new business ideas in a single tweet for a $1,000 cash grand prize.

Participants will be asked to summarize their ideas beginning on Monday, Oct. 8 at 8 a.m. EDT. The contest will conclude on Friday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. EDT. Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition organizers will judge entries based on originality and ability to capture attention from investors.

In order to be considered, all entries must include the #AccelMI hashtag, as well as provide proper identification and ownership of the Twitter handle from which business ideas are generated and submitted. Multiple entries are welcomed and encouraged by all participants!

The $1,000 grand prize winner will be announced live via Twitter on Oct. 29 at 12 p.m. EDT. The top 15 runners up will have their ideas re-tweeted by the @AccelerateMI Twitter handle between Oct. 30 and Nov. 9.

Full details on Accelerate MI’s second annual 140 Character Twitter Contest can be found by visiting the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition website, www.acceleratemichigan.org.

About the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition – North America’s largest business competition – is an international business contest aimed at fostering entrepreneurial growth throughout Michigan’s vibrant business community. The competition is focused on two tracks: International and U.S. businesses relocating to Michigan and Michigan collegiate students.

All deadlines for submission have passed as of Sept. 27, 2012

Competition Timeline

• Semi-final investor pitches will begin on Nov. 14, 2012 at the Westin Book Cadillac in downtown Detroit.
• The Competition Finals and Gala Awards Celebration will be held the evening of Nov. 15, 2012 at Detroit’s historic Orchestra Hall, where Accelerate Michigan and its partners will award more than $1 million in cash prizes, along with millions more of in-kind awards to those businesses showing the most promise.

This year’s judging panel will include experts from Michigan-based investment firms, companies and universities, as well as, national and regional investors and venture capitalists. In addition to prizes, competition participants will have access to Michigan’s entrepreneurial eco-system, including wet labs, incubators and top talent from some of the world’s leading research universities.

About Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition and Its Partners

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is an international business competition offering more than $1 million in cash prizes, plus thousands in in-kind awards. The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is a collaborative effort of the Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, the New Economy Initiative of Southeast Michigan and Accelerate Michigan. For more information, visit www.acceleratemichigan.org.

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