-VCs, Entrepreneurs Judge Four Student Plans on Saturday, March 31, in Malibu
MySpace former CEO Michael Jones, now founder and CEO of Santa Monica-based tech startup studio Science (www.science-inc.com), will be the keynote speaker at the Pepperdine Business Plan Competition on Saturday, March 31, at the Malibu graduate campus' Drescher Auditorium. Jones will join Dr. Larry Cox, Pepperdine professor and business school entrepreneur program director, in Larry King-style interview banter before opening the floor to questions from the audience. RSVP for the free event and lunch at http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/bplan. Seating is limited.
Framing the exchanging with Jones will be Pepperdine's annual competition between student entrepreneurs from the Graziadio School of Business and Management and School of Law. A distinguished panel of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists will judge the best business plans and presentation for cash prizes. Four teams advance to the final round out of the 33 entries evaluated in an initial fast pitch and semi-final competition. The Graziadio School's student-run Values-Centered Leadership Lab, an organization dedicated to furthering corporate social responsibility and ethics in business, will present the Socially Minded Entrepreneur Award to the business plan that best embodies the business school's signature SEER principles -- socially, environmentally and ethically responsible business practice.
Judging the final round are Soctt Alderton, founding partner of Stubbs, Alderton & Markiles; Brad Fornaciari, founder and CEO of Lighthouse Branding; George T. Hadjis, CEO of Oggi's Pizza & Brewing Company; Scott Jarus, chairman and CEO of Ironclad Performance Wear Corp.; Jason Nazar (Pepperdine MBA/JD '05), co-founder and CEO of Docstoc.com; John Wander, CEO of CHNL, Inc. and David Wells, CFO of Sionix.
Michael Jones launched Science last November to develop, provide guidance for and fund start-up companies. The two initial ventures to come out of the Science thus far are Eventup (www.eventup.com), a marketplace for large venues for special events, and MeUndies (www.meundies.com), a startup that designs, manufactures and sells underwear online.
At the Pepperdine Business Plan Competition on Saturday, March 31, Jones and attendees will learn about revolutionary software that will allow the user to quickly cite any source. Another plan regards a patent-pending personal security device that is also a piece of jewelry. A business plan promoting a device that allows consumers to scoop up the remains of a variety of products such as lotion will compete. Judges will also learn about a start-up medical device venture focused on preventing complications of Central Venous Catheters (CVCs).
The Pepperdine Business Plan Competition is sponsored by Gaiam, Burton Morgan Foundation, MyCorporation, and Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. RSVP: http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/bplan.
About Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management
Founded on the core values of integrity, stewardship, courage, and compassion, Pepperdine University's Graziadio (GRAT-ZEE-ah-DEE-oh) School of Business and Management has been developing values-centered leaders and advancing responsible business practice since 1969. Student-focused, experience-driven, and globally-oriented, the Graziadio School offers fully accredited MBA, Masters of Science, and bachelor's completion business programs. More information found at http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/newsroom/.
Contacts:
Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management
Douglass
Gore, Director of Public Relations
310-568-5580
graziadioPR@pepperdine.edu
