By Nicole Matheson

Attention entrepreneurs!

For those who have plans or ideas to start a new business, or are in the beginning stages of operating their own business, ASU’s third annual HavaStartup 2021-2022 Business Plan Competition is the opportunity they have been waiting for.

The popular contest begins again today, with registration and the submission of a business summary. This year, the competition will extend to those who have been in business for less than five years in Lake Havasu City.

Contestants will have the opportunity to work with industry experts and academicians to help develop, fine-tune and grow their business plan and model. This helps set the business up for success where an individual may struggle on their own with no guidance. They will compete by presenting their plans to a team of judges.

Anyone with a unique business idea is encouraged to apply and possibly make their dreams come true, as well as win fabulous prizes. This year the winner will receive $1,000 and a scholarship to cover the application fee for the 2022 eight-week business development program, Empower by GoDaddy Main St. Accelerator. The runner up will receive $750.

Photo RSM Team

The HavaStartup Competition is organized by ASU@Lake Havasu City in collaboration with the Lake Havasu Chamber Foundation for Education and Leadership and the Better Business Bureau. Prizes will be presented by the BBB and Craig Plumbing, who hopes that businesses will see this an opportunity to grow and expand the workforce.

With this program, ASU seeks to grow local businesses and establish new ones for the betterment of the community by expanding the workforce in Lake Havasu. Locals may apply by visiting https://havasu.asu.edu/havastartup or email the one who first conceptualized the competition, ASU business faculty Dr. Leepsa Nabaghan Madhabika at lmadhabi@asu.edu

Madhabika first started this competition when observing that, “Our community provides numerous opportunities for economic growth, positive community engagement actives and an incredible amount of resources from ASU@Lake Havasu.” She sought to bring all these things together to help the community, giving entrepreneurs a platform to communicate and share ideas.