Ability to lure cash added to entrepreneur contest ratings

BOULDER – For the 30^th edition of its annual Esprit Entrepreneur event, the Boulder Chamber is adding a new award – and letting community members and their pocketbooks have a say in which start-up is named Boulder’s Venture of the Year.

The Esprit Venture Challenge is open to seed-stage companies with combined revenue and capital of less than $1 million. The winner will be announced at Esprit Entrepreneur (http://cm.boulderchamber.com/events/details/esprit-entrepreneur-2014-4819) at the St. Julien Hotel and Spa on Oct. 23.

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Registration opened Monday (https://www.publicprize.com/esprit-venture-challenge/about) and runs through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday night. Community members can vote through Oct. 21, by donating money to the startup of their choice.

Not only will startups be able to keep the money donated their way, but the amount raised by each will account for 40 percent of their score for the Esprit Venture Challenge. A panel of judges – including the likes of Techstars co-founder David Brown, National Center for Women and Information Technology CEO Lucy Sanders, and SendGrid CEO Jim Franklin – will determine the other 60 percent of startups’ scores.

“It’s exciting,” Boulder Chamber President and Chief Executive John Tayer said. “It’s created a buzz about entrepreneurship and brought new energy to our celebration of entrepreneurship.”

Tayer said the prize package for the winning startup is still growing but includes things like financial and legal services, as well as office or co-working space.

This year marks the second in a row of a condensed format for Esprit Entrepreneur, which Tayer said has worked well.

The event kicks off with a VIP reception on Oct. 22 at eTown Hall. The main event is Oct. 23 at the St. Julien, and is an all-day event that includes various panel discussions and a keynote address from Amy Cosper, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine.

The Chamber will also present its awards for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Esprit Impact and Entrepreneur of the Year.

“We are proud to celebrate 30 years of presenting outstanding programs at the Esprit Entrepreneur,” Tayer said. “It’s an important way to provide real value to our business community and to recognize some of our exceptional business leaders.”