EUGENE–Good ideas can launch entrepreneurial businesses–but it takes a good business plan to launch a successful one.

University of Oregon seniors in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the Charles H. Lundquist College of Business will test their business plans and vie for cash prizes at Acacia Teleservices International’s "Quest for AdVenture" business plan competition.

The event, co-sponsored by the UO Charles H. Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship, is free and open to the public. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 10, in the Ballroom of the Erb Memorial Union, 1222 13th Ave.

Sawat Wolfe from Acacia Teleservices International, primary sponsor of the event, will introduce the luncheon keynote speaker, Michael Coughlin, who is the past chief executive officer of Eugene-based Percon, Inc. The company was purchased in January by PSC, Inc., a national bar code scanning firm.

This year’s graduating MBA students will present new ideas and unique business plans to colleagues, investors and business people. The public is invited to attend and learn more about the dos and don’ts of business planning.

Nine teams will present business plans to judges who come from both industry and academia. During 15-minute presentations and 20-minute question-and-answer sessions, each student team will make a case for its concept, its management skills and the viability of the proposed venture.

Competitors have spent a full year in the Lundquist center’s entrepreneurship program, developing their ideas, researching the market, identifying financial implications and ultimately creating a comprehensive and professional business plan.

After a morning competition, three finalists will return for a second round of competition. The winner will take home $1,000 and will become the UO representative to the Lundquist center’s national venture challenge, "The New Venture Competition," to be held in Portland April 27—29.

The UO Charles H. Lundquist College of Business will host a buffet luncheon and a reception during which the winner will be announced and awards presented.

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