Governor's Business Plan Contest presentation. (Submitted photo)

Do you have a great idea for an app? Or perhaps a new piece of technology or a new process that will change not only the Badger State but the world? Then the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest is for you. The contest is accepting entries online through Jan. 31.

Finalists that emerge from the multistep competition, which concludes in June, will be eligible for prizes that include thousands of dollars’ worth of and services and cash.

“The Wisconsin Technology Council produces the contest to encourage entrepreneurs statewide in the startup stages of tech-based businesses,” the contest’s website states. “It links up-and-coming entrepreneurs with a statewide network of community resources, expert advice and mentoring, management talent, and possible sources of capital.”

Winners in the 2023 contest shared $120,000 in prizes, and since the contest’s inception in 2004 prizes have reached a total value of $2.8 million in cash and services (including office space and legal, accounting, and marketing services). What may be ever more valuable, however, is the public and media exposure received by the winning startups.

Categories in the contest include Advanced Manufacturing, Business Services, Information Technology, and Life Sciences.

The contest is open to Wisconsin residents 18 years of age and older, teams from Wisconsin-based businesses or organizations, as well as businesses and teams from outside the state who “demonstrate intent to base or expand their businesses in Wisconsin.” Companies or individuals must not have received angel investment or venture for their business plans in their current form.

Phase 1 of the contest is open until 11:59pm Wednesday, Jan. 31. According to the contest website, “Entries should be roughly 250 words and will be graded by the pool of BPC judges. The top 50 idea abstracts will advance to Phase 2.”

The second and third phases winnow the field further, and require contestants to supply greater details about their startups. Finally, the top 12 entries, the so-called “Diligent Dozens,” will make live presentations at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in June.

Last year’s grand prize winner was SixLine Semiconductor, a Middleton-based firm that works with tiny conductive materials that have applications in wireless devices and computing. Category winners in 2023 were SixLine Semiconductor (Advanced Manufacturing), WorkShift (Business Services), IQDecide (Information Technology) and Soul Mobility (Life Sciences).

Major sponsors of the contest include the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

Learn more about the contest and how to enter at govsbizplancontest.com.