US Senator Kent Conrad

ND Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson

"North Dakota's greatest resource is its young people. The Business Plan Competition can help our talented students develop skills and ideas that will grow into successful new enterprises."

Kent Conrad
U.S. Senator

"Learning to write business plans helps young people exercise their creativity and develop critical thinking and organizational skills, the very skills they will need most, no matter what their future occupation. The Business Plan Competition fosters entrepreneurship, self confidence and the will to work hard for success."

Roger Johnson
Agriculture Commissioner

The Annual BOSS Business Plan Competition (traditionally held the day before Marketplace for Entrepreneurs) features top business plans developed by college and university students with-in the region. The first phase of the competition is the written evaluation. Based on written scores, 24 business plan teams are selected to compete in the oral presentations. The written score and oral scores are combined and the top eight scoring business plan teams are chosen to advance to the "Elevator Round". This round gets its name from the idea that the business plan author unexpectedly shares an elevator with an important potential investor and has three minutes to explain the business idea and why the investor should be interested.

All BOSS events are open to the public. A modest amount of prize money is given, but overall objective is to encourage a new generation of entrepreneurs, sharpen business skills and create networking opportunities. Awards will be presented to winners during the Marketplace Recognition Reception the evening prior to Marketplace. Additional information on the BOSS Business Plan Competition can be found at www.MarketplaceForEntrepreneurs.org.

BOSS is organized and sponsored by U.S. Senator Kent Conrad and Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson.