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DALLAS, Texas (SMU) - SMU's Cox School of Business announces its annual Business Plan Competition. In only its second year, the Business Plan Competition is becoming one of the most prominent student competitions on campus. On Friday, February 1, four Cox MBA teams will present their business ideas to a premier panel consisting of Dallas private equity investing companies and Cox School faculty. The students will be competing for cash prizes and the opportunity to advance to the Southwest Regional Business Plan Competition at Rice University.

"The Business Plan Competition is the ultimate experience for budding entrepreneurs," said Bob Motion, Cox MBA '02 and Cox Entrepreneurship Club president. "It allows them to develop their business concept and, more importantly, defend their ideas and get valuable feedback from venture investment professionals."

In Fall 2001, Cox MBA students submitted executive summaries for evaluation in the hopes of being named a finalist. Judges evaluated the executive summaries according to opportunity, market attractiveness, strategy of the business model, and financial viability. From 15 proposals, twice as many as in the previous year, four teams were chosen as finalists. These teams have prepared full business plans and presentations and will be judged on the clarity of the material covered and their ability to handle a "question and answer" stage. Judges will also provide feedback and coaching to all participants, giving an assessment of the potential of the investment opportunity. Companies judging the competition include Interwest Partners, Abacus Ventures, Vortex Partners, the Cox Venture Fund, BPCY, as well as prominent angel investors.

The Business Plan Competition is, in itself, an entrepreneurial endeavor. Initiated and organized by members of the Cox MBA Entrepreneurship Club, the competition was developed as a way to provide Cox MBA students feedback on viable business ideas. Sponsorship is provided by the Cox Venture Fund, an endowment dedicated to funding the entrepreneurial dreams of Cox MBAs. Other organizations contributing to the event include, Sternhill Partners of Houston, Abacus Ventures of Dallas, and Business Engine of San Francisco.

Recently ranked #1 among the top 25 Executive MBA programs worldwide by BusinessWeek, the Cox School's entrepreneurship program has offered top-quality education and training for entrepreneurs for more than 30 years. SMU's Cox School of Business offers a full range of business education programs, from BBA and full-time MBA to Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), and Executive Education. Cox is ranked among the top business schools nationally and internationally by major publications including BusinessWeek, Financial Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the school's Business Leadership Center (BLC), Caruth Institute of Owner-Managed Business, American Airlines Global Leadership Program (GLP), and Associate Board executive mentoring program are recognized nationally and internationally.