Are You the Next Great Automotive Innovator? The Young Executives Network Wants You to Prove It!

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SEMA Member News—July/August 2013

Are You the Next Great AutomotiveInnovator? The Young Executives Network Wants You to Prove It!

The SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) is helping young entrepreneurs by announcing the first-ever “SEMA Launch Pad” competition. This new competition offers executive-level innovators under the age of 40 a platform to showcase their business plans for marketing new automotive products or services.

 The SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) is helping young entrepreneurs by announcing the first-ever “SEMA Launch Pad” competition. This new competition offers executive-level innovators under the age of 40 a platform to showcase their business plans for marketing new automotive products or services. 
  
Five finalists will have their business plans reviewed by industry leaders at the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in front of a live audience. The winning company will be awarded an array of prizes, including a 10x10-ft. booth at the 2014 SEMA Show, an ad in Hot Rod or 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine, a Family Events sponsorship, web design, graphic design and PR consultation packages and much more. Even entrants who don’t win may be promoted to thousands of industry professionals curious to learn more about their innovative products or services.

It’s time to launch the next young automotive entrepreneur. For more information and to fill out an application, visit here or e-mail the SEMA launch pad project manager, Senior Manager of Councils Bryan Harrison.

Details:

  • The company’s leading executive (company president, CEO or owner) is the participant on behalf of the company. As a YEN member (under age 40), the executive will complete the online application and submit a three-minute video detailing the company’s innovative product or service.
  • The video will be reviewed by a YEN task force, which will select the top 10 candidates.
  • The 10 candidates will be reduced to five according to which receives the most “like” votes via a YEN Facebook campaign this summer.
  • The five finalists will be invited to participate in a live peer-review presentation at the 2013 SEMA Show.
  • The SEMA Show judges will select the winning YEN executive.

Key Deadlines:

  • Three-minute video and application due by July 11, 2013.
  • Top 10 candidates’ submissions will be posted on the YEN Facebook page, with voting to run from July 29, 2013, to September 5, 2013. The five candidates with the most “like” votes proceed to the contest finals.
  • Top five candidates make live, 10-minute presentations to panel of judges at the SEMA Show.

Basic Requirements:

  • Participant must be a YEN member (under 40 years old on November 8, 2013) and a legal resident of the United States. To become a YEN member, visit www.SEMA.org/yen.
  • YEN member’s company must be a SEMA member.
  • YEN member’s company must qualify to exhibit at the 2013 SEMA Show (but does not have to exhibit).
  • The automotive product or service competing in the SEMA Launch Pad contest must be functioning and currently for sale. No concepts accepted.
  • The top five YEN participants will travel to the SEMA Show at their own expense to compete in the live event. The YEN participant must make the presentation before the SEMA Show judges. (No substitutes.)
  • All taxes on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize-winning company. Tax liability is based on the value of the prizes.
  • By participating in the contest, the YEN participant certifies that he/she has ownership rights to the trademarks, service marks, copyrights, patents and any other intellectual property rights or proprietary information of the company and product/service being marketed, or authorization from the owner of such rights.