US Special Partners
The National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance fosters invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship in higher education as a way of creating innovative, commercially viable, and socially beneficial businesses and employment opportunities in the United States. The program was founded on the premise that invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship are essential components of the higher education curriculum and vital to the nation’s economic future. The NCIIA works with colleges and universities to build collaborative experiential learning programs that help nurture a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs with strong technical and business skills and the tools and intention to make the world a better place.
Microsoft and National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) have entered into a collaboration agreement for the 2009 academic year, in an effort to improve student’s entrepreneurial skills and create greater opportunities for them to bring their innovations to market.
Through this partnership, the Imagine Cup competitors gain access to the training and resources in entrepreneurship they need to change the world. It will give participants the opportunity to connect with thousands of students participating in NCIIA activities, allowing us to create a greater atmosphere of innovation and providing more students with access to MS technologies to pursue their dreams.
Students that participate in the Imagine Cup this year will have access and special offers to the following material and events:
A guide for emerging entrepreneurs: Read more about entrepreneurship in Getting Started, the NCIIA’s online guide for emerging entrepreneurs.
Training for entrepreneurs: The NCIIA has granted 200 scholarships for Imagine Cup participants to attend its one-day intensive Invention to Venture workshops in entrepreneurship. The workshops are offered across the country; the scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to register for a workshop.
Coaching in business development: Imagine Cup finalists will have the opportunity to attend an intensive three-day Advanced Invention to Venture workshop, where they will receive detailed instruction and coaching on developing their business strategies.
Funding to move your idea along the path to commercialization: Microsoft is sponsoring three NCIIA E-Team grants, which will be awarded to the top US Imagine Cup finalists to pursue the commercial development of their ideas.
To learn more about the NCIIA click here.
Palo Alto Software
http://www.paloalto.com
Palo Alto Software is the worldwide leader in business plan software and marketing plan software. The company was f
ounded in 1983 by Tim Berry, a business planning expert, Stanford MBA, and co-founder of Borland International with a long history of technology sector leadership in the Silicon Valley. Despite the company's name, Palo Alto Software is now headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, with international offices in London and Ireland.
