Another Contest for Small Businesses

This prize for this contest isn't as big as the $250,000 contest, but it might be worth looking into. It is the Land's End Small Business VIP contest.

The grand prize includes all of the following:

4 round trip tickets and hotel accommodations in Madison, WI.

A visit to Lands’ End headquarters

A Badger Football game.

4 tickets to the Inc. 500|5000 Conference in Washington, DC.

1 year subscription to Inc. Magazine

You can check it out here.

How to Get $250,000 for Your New Business that You Don't Have to Pay Back

Miller Lite is sponsoring the Miller Lite Tap the Future contest for entrepreneurs, that will award a $250,000 grant to the winning small business. You will need to submit your business idea and be prepared to present your business to Daymond John from ABC’s Shark Tank and other experts.

There are also several second and third prizes. Here are the eligibility restrictions:

All members of the Team are 21 years or older as of the application date.

All members of the Team are legal U.S. residents of the United States.

The business/business plan cannot be a franchise.

The business/business plan cannot be a 501-c3 non-profit organization.

The business must be a U.S. entity located within the United States or Washington D.C.

A business/Team is not eligible if the business/Team or any owner/member of the business/Team was awarded a business grant from certain other contests.

Deadline is August 1st to get your application in, so get it in now, and may the best business win.

Crowdfunding for Movies ~ Become an Armchair Motion Picture Producer

There's No Business Like Show Business

Here is a new one I haven't seen before. A company called The Movie Fund has a site that allows investors to invest in movies and allows filmmakers to get their production funded through crowdfunding.

According to the company:

The Movie Fund works with the leading producers, directors, agents,actors, film companies & distributors in Hollywood and our founding partners have produced films such as Die Hard 2, Lara Croft, Demolition Man and Predator.

A Different Type of Crowdfunding

The business operates similar to Kickstarter in that filmmakers can publisize their upcoming movie projects, and offer incentives to investors. Invesors may even get a speaking role in a movie, along with invitations to premiers and parties.

Potential for Return on Investment

The difference between The Movie Fund and Indie Go-Go or Kickstarter is that the funds become immediately available to the filmmaker in order to keep their motion picture on track. In addition, the investors can actually make a return on their investment.

SEC Now Allows Startups to Advertise their Fundraising

On July 10, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted to allow the general solicitation of investments by companies. This means that startups can now advertise their investment fundraising program.

Restrictions

There are some additional restrictions in place. The SEC stated that "the submission of written general solicitation materials to the Commission no later than the date of first use of such materials."

This decision follows the SEC’s adoption of rule amendments to implement Section 201 of the JOBS Act by removing the prohibition on general solicitation in certain exempt offerings.

Risks

However, the SEC was quick to point out that "the General Solicitation Rule adopted today fails to address the risks to investors arising from the faulty process followed in implementing Section 201 of the JOBS Act."

Positive Effects

These changes could do two things for startups. The rulings could spawn the growth of existing startups, and even bail out some startups that are short o cash. In addition, more startups may be created, knowing that the ease of obtaining capital will be greater. This should create more jobs, and might even bail out the economy.

Los Angeles Shutting Down Startups Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar

According to a recent article at curbed.com, the City of Los Angeles is going after the unregulated taxi type startups in the area. These include Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar.

The majority of the people who drive the vehicles are bit part actors or aspiring actors, or people trying to break into show business.

The Winklevoss Twins Latest Startup

First, the Winklevoss brothers started Facebook (according to them). Now the famous twins, who have been heavily involved in bitcoins, are having their own IPO.

The brothers recently filed what is called an S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the most commonly used form for a company that wants to go public. They have created the Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust, which will issue Winklevoss Bitcoin Shares, which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust.

Proceeds received by the Trust from the issuance and sale of Baskets, including the Seed Baskets and the Shares, will consist of Bitcoin deposits. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, during the life of the Trust such proceeds will only be (1) held by the Trust, (2) distributed to Authorized Participants in connection with the redemption of Baskets, or (3) disbursed to pay the Sponsor’s Fee or sold as needed to pay the Trust’s expenses not assumed by the Sponsor.

There are almost 60 risks listed in the Risk section.

The registration statement makes fascinating reading.