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The Foothill Business Plan Competition HistoryThe Foothill College Business Plan Competition was launched in 2008 to allow students to experience what many entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley do on a regular basis: present their ideas to venture capital firms on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. Competitors are judged under various criteria:
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Comments from the 2008 Business Plan Competition Judges
"This competition was an exemplary collaboration between academe and business. Foothill College students applied classroom theory to real world possibilities and experienced professionals critiqued their work. What an incredible learning opportunity for everyone!"
-Dr. Judy Miner, President Foothill College
"After the event I was speaking with several different presenters and urged them to consider going forward with their ideas. This leads to interesting discussions regarding treating this experience as a real world challenge as opposed to a one time academic event. It would be wonderful to look back in a few years from now and be able to cite real businesses that had become successful after starting with the Foothill College Entrepreneurship Business Case Competition!"
-John Shoemaker, former EVP, Computer Systems, Sun Microsystems. Currently Board Chairman, Sonicwall, Inc.
"After recently serving as one of the guest judges at Foothill College's Business Plan competition, and through my ongoing involvement and financial sponsorship related to personally serving on the advisory board of Foothill College's Entrepreneur Center, I am more convinced than ever of the critical role that our nation's community colleges can play in supporting and cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit that our country was originally built upon, both in form and function! Well done!"
-Michael S. Millman CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, Senior Vice President, Private Client Advisor, Wells Fargo Private Bank
"This was Foothill's First Annual Business Plan Competition. Judging by the success of the ten diverse and highly intelligent plans that I reviewed, I'm looking forward to next year's contest! The students articulated their plans and strategies very well, and presented in the spirit of entrepreneurialism that rivaled the dot-com days. Here's to their future success!"
-Tim Warren, Vice President, Senior Private Banker, Wells Fargo Private Bank
"I've been involved in business plan competitions all over the country, with some of the leading MBA programs. And I was still extremely impressed with Foothill's. This was a top-notch competition, put together extremely professionally, and gave the students an amazing opportunity to meet with leading venture capitalists and corporate executives to get a real-life taste of what it is to plan a business and try to pitch for money. Glenn Violett and his students did an incredible job!"
-Rhonda Abrams, Nationally-syndicated entrepreneurship columnist, USA Today, and President of The Planning Shop
"The business plan competition not only provides a good platform for the students to develop lifelong skills, but it will also help to establish alumni loyalty, community awareness and involvement, and the "Foothill College brand" for innovation."
-TY Dennis Wong, Attorney At Law, International Contract Law
"A successful event! The students demonstrated an in depth knowledge and study of the risks involved with starting a new business. I was most impressed with the professional oral presentations of very creative ideas. I can't wait until next year!"
-Laura Casas Frier, Foothill De Anza College Trustee
"An excellent and well-organized competition by the Foothill Business Department, Business Club, faculty, students, and volunteers. The participants put great amount of effort to target and reach the high standards that are expected in Silicon Valley. I certainly commend them and hope that this is the first of a yearly tradition."
-Dr. Ramesh K. Rao, Ph.D., Kudos Research
"The event was a great learning opportunity for the students and a useful introduction to Foothill College for many members of the community. I am sure this is just the beginning of a strong and fruitful collaboration between the school and the local business environment."
-Fabio Santini, MBA Stanford 2008
"The First Business Plan Competition was a work of passion by the students involved. We were pleased by the caliber of Judges and Participants. A special thanks to all who worked in the background to make this event the beginning of something new for our new Foothill Entrepreneur Center."
-Glenn J. Violett, Faculty in Business, Foothill College
