R.I. Business Plan Competition names judges

PROVIDENCE – Nine judges have been named for the 2016 Rhode Island Business Plan Competition, the largest community-supported business plan competition in New England.

They are:

  • Kim Anderson, co-founder of the former Ava Anderson Non Toxic and manager of Pure Haven Essentials
  • Maling Ebrahimpour, dean, College of Business Administration, University of Rhode Island
  • Margaret “Peggy” Farrell, partner, Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP
  • Andrew Hughes, partner, Locke Lord LLP
  • Anthony Mangiarelli, principal, Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co. Ltd.
  • Ray Mathieu, board director, trustee and investor
  • Lou Mazzuchelli, lecturer and coordinator of entrepreneurship programs, Bryant University
  • Christine Smith, executive director, Rhode Island Science & Technology Advisory Council
  • Thorne Sparkman, managing director, Slater Technology Fund

“The competition is fortunate to have a solid team of business builders who are willing to serve as judges,” Competition Executive Director Peter Lowy said in a statement. “Their commitment and the support of our sponsors, including previous competition participants, are what enables the competition to move forward.”

The competition will award prizes valued at more than $200,000 to winners and finalists in May. The application deadline is March 28. The competition is free and open to everyone age 18 or over whether or not they already have started a business.

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Sixty sponsors – the most in any year since the competition’s inception in 2000 – are offering prizes of cash and in-kind services. Sponsors include 11 financial organizations, six colleges and universities, as well as advisory, construction, health-related, software, retail, professional services and other businesses.

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