In 2007, while researching resources for participants in Washington Community Alliance for Self Help (aka "Washington CASH"), a micro-finance program for low income entrepreneurs, I discovered the "Make Mine a Million $ Business Award" - a competition program for women entrepreneurs. I read and was inspired by the success story of Gina Stern a 2006 Make Mine a Million Award a recipient who founded d_parture Spa -- an airport full service spa business that has become successful.
The "Make Mine a Million $ Business Award" competition program was conceived by Nell Merlino who realized that while aspiring female entrepreneurs have innovative ideas, they often lacked the tools they need to grow a profitable business. Nell founded "Count Me In" -- an organisation that provides the support that women entrepreneurs need to thrive and grow their business. According to Nell, Make Mine a Million started as a result of Beatriz Ramos, founder of Dancing Diablo a Brooklyn-based animation business that had received micro-finance, need for a higher level of financing to expand her growing business.
Through her blog, Nell offers expert insider tips and her secrets to success! The secrets to business success that Nell offers are not just peculiar to women -- they apply to all businesses and entrepreneurs. The goal of Make Mine a Million $ Business is to inspire one million women entrepreneurs to reach annual revenues of $1 million in the next decade. The impact of reaching this goal is creation of over 4 million new jobs and $700 billion in economic activity. With 97% of all women-owned businesses in the U.S. reporting less than 1million $ in revenue, Make Mine a Million $ Business Award goal is to address the growth needs of established and new women-owned businesses.
"Count Me In" has partnered with several organisations such as American Express Open Forum, Cisco, Dell, FedEx, jetBlue, Reader's Digest and Sam's Club to provide coaching, financing and marketing tools that women entrepreneurs need to help grow their businesses from micro levels to millions in revenue.
Each year, "Count Me In" runs a competition titled "Make Mine a Million $ Business". It allows women entrepreneurs that are US residents who have innovative and unique business ideas to apply for funding and tools that are likely to help ensure their success and goal of reaching a million dollars or more in sales revenue within 18-24 months. The competition is open to all women entrepreneurs that meet the eligibility criteria.
Winning the competition allows the woman entrepreneur the opportunity to reach new national markets with partners like American Express Open Forum, Cisco, Dell, FedEx, jetBlue, Reader's Digest and Sam's Club.
The program abounds with numerous success stories some of which you can read about below:
If you or a woman entrepreneur that you know meets the eligibility criteria, you should complete the application. Whether you win the competition or not, you will still reap immense benefits from completing the application -- you become a member of the M3 Community! M3 Community members also receive the following benefits:
- Opportunities to connect with the thousands of women entrepreneurs, potential strategic partners, clients, and vendors
- Forums to discuss business growth questions, comments and concerns on our message boards.
- Real-time feedback from other entrepreneurs and experts on your day-to-day concerns.
- Opportunity to market your business to thousands of women by completing your profile page
- Business growth tips, advice, and success stories in our monthly newsletter.
- Be the first to know about our upcoming webinars, live workshops, seminars and events.
- Face to face meetings with women entrepreneurs in your local area through Meetups.
Applicants with the highest ratings are selected as Finalists and the Finalists must be able to attend the Event that they have applied for, where they will compete to become Awardees. At the Event, each Finalist competes by presenting a three-minute "elevator pitch" of their business, their qualifications, and how they would benefit from the Program. The "Elevator Pitch" is given in front of a live audience and a panel of qualified judges selected by Count Me In. The judges, with input from the audience vote, will select the Finalists that should be named as Award Recipients.
Make Mine a Million $ Business Competition Timetable and Deadlines
| EVENT LOCATION | EVENT DATE | APPLICATION DEADLINE |
| Houston, Texas - NATIONAL | Feb. 17-18, 2010 | Jan. 15, 2010 |
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Love that you posted this! As a fellow CMI sister and M3 Racer, would you mind if I posted too?
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