Alliance Events Calendar

Date: October 3, 2017 - November 14, 2017

Sorry, public registration for this event has been closed. Please call our office for assistance.

Event Description Thrive is a community-based approach to supporting local entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs take the stage to present their crowdfunding pitch campaign, competing against one another for community members' votes.

Entrepreneurs find ambassadors who can spread their brand's message and the top vote-getting entrepreneur takes home a cash prize to scale up their operation. 

Click 'Register Now' above to apply. Choose the 'Click here to continue your event registration' link under the 'Not a member?' heading to proceed to application.

How does it work?

Whether you have a fantastic idea, are looking to expand or are a startup already operating ? if you have a business or product that could use financial support, then apply to participate in Thrive. 

• Entrepreneur applicants must register online by 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. Must be 18 by Dec. 5 to apply.
• Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of judges who will select finalists to be featured at Thrive.
• Leading up to the event, finalists meet with University of Charleston Innovation Center business coaches to get tips and suggestions for their respective business plan presentations.
• Finalists pitch business plan to promote their idea and outline need for capital investment at Thrive.
• Top vote-getting entrepreneur will take home cash prize to scale-up operations.

Where does capital investment come from?

• Community members pay a $25 entry fee to attend Thrive, which gives them the opportunity to vote for an entrepreneur to support for capital investment.
• Community member attendance fees are combined with seed capital from event sponsors for the top vote-getter's capital investment. 

Click here for more information on the Thrive entrepreneur application process.