Undergraduate students from schools around the world have been invited to the Neeley School of Business at TCU to compete for the best business plan that incorporates values, ethics and service into a for-profit business for the Richards Barrentine Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition, April 19-20, 2012.
 
“There are very few undergraduate business plan competitions, and our competition is even more unique in championing business plans that combine smart business practices with meaningful personal values,” said Ann McDonald, director of the Values and Ventures Program at the Neeley School of Business.
 
Students submitted written business plans to the Neeley School on April 9. They will travel to TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, to make their presentations in front of a panel of judges April 19. Finalists will present to a different panel of judges Friday. Winners will be announced at an awards dinner that evening at the Omni hotel, hosted by the Neeley Entrepreneurship Center. The first place team will be awarded $15,000, second place will be awarded $10,000, third place $5,000 and fourth place $2,500.
 
Participating schools for the 2012 competition are:
 
·         Babson College, Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, Wellesley, ME

·         Ball State University, Miller College of Business, Muncie, IN

·         Belmont University, College of Business Administration, Nashville, TN

·         Erasmus University, Rotterdam School of Management, Rotterdam, Netherlands

·         J.J. Strossmayer University Osijek, Faculty of Economics, Osijek, Croatia

·         Grand Valley State University, Seidman College of Business, Grand Rapids, MI

·         Iowa State University, Ames, IA

·         Kansas State University, College of Business Administration, Manhattan, KS

·         Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA

·         Monterrey Institute of Technology, Monterrey, Mexico

·         New York University, Stern School of Business, New York City, NY

·         Oklahoma State University, Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK

·         Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

·         Samford University, Brock School of Business, Birmingham, AL

·         Syracuse University, Whiteman School of Management, Syracuse, NY

·         Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business, Fort Worth, TX

·         University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, Tucson, AZ

·         University of Arkansas, Walton College of Business, Fayetteville, AR

·         University of Houston, Bauer College of Business, Houston, TX

·         University of Oklahoma, Price College of Business, Norman, OK

·         Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC

·         Walsh University, DeVille School of Business, North Canton, OH

·         Wilfrid Laurier University, School of Business & Economics, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

 
In the inaugural Richards Barrentine Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition last year, the student team from Belmont University won first place for their business plan that provides employment opportunities for the homeless and diverts waste from landfills by deconstructing and recycling used mattresses.
 
For more information about the 2012 Richards Barrentine Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition, visit www.neeley.tcu.edu/vandvv.  
 
The Neeley School of Business at TCU (www.neeley.tcu.edu) develops ethical leaders with a global perspective who help shape the business environment. In an environment that is personal, connect and real, students reach their potential, stick to their ethics, support teams and lead others. They meet influential people and businesses that champion TCU business students, and get real experience working on projects for clients. Neeley’s undergraduate and graduate programs are nationally ranked and recognized as premier business programs by Bloomberg BusinessWeek , U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, Entrepreneur, Parade and Beyond Grey Pinstripes. Neeley is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the highest standard of accreditation for business schools internationally.