ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., Jan. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Start-ups, entrepreneurs and small business owners in Southern California are being called-up to demonstrate their savvy business plan or new idea for feedback by a panel of judges including Brandi and Jarrod of "Storage Wars" at Get Started Orange County for a chance to win a $10,000 prize package.  Get Started OC will take place at Lyon Air Museum on Feb. 25 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.  Candidates interested in pitching their idea can register now until Feb. 13, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. PST at www.coxblue.com/GetStartedOC.  Those interested in joining as an audience member should register at the same place by Feb. 23, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Organizers are using the hashtag #GetStartedOC.    

"Get Started OC is a way for Cox Business and our partners to help promote innovative talent in our local business community," said Steve Rowley, senior vice president of Cox Business. "Not only will contestants be eligible to win a grand prize, but our panel of experts will provide valuable advice and success tips that will assist them in launching their business."

Participation in Get Started OC is open to five qualified contestants who will be given two and-a-half minutes each to pitch their idea in front of a live audience. A panel of four experts (i.e. judges) will follow-up with questions and observations. They include: Brandi and Jarrod, stars of "Storage Wars"; Lindsay Blakely, event moderator and senior editor at Inc.com; Brian Meece, Co-Founder at RocketHub Inc. and Ken Kraft, Vice President of Cox Business Marketing. The experts will review each of the plans and select a winner based on innovation, ease of implementation and consumer/community benefit.

The winning presentation will be awarded a prize package valued at up to $10,000 including cash and Cox Business services.

A 250 word description is required of those start-ups or business owners that want to apply.  Entrants will be notified by Feb. 17 if they have been selected to pitch at the event. The five finalists will receive up to two coaching sessions each in advance of the event to prepare.   

This is the tenth event in the "Get Started" series from Cox Business and Inc. magazine. Winners of recent Get Started events include the following companies: ScanMed QR in Get Started Oklahoma City, Fusion Cross-Media in Get Started Connecticut,  Post-Op Top in Get Started Orange County, Care Technology, LLC in Get Started Rhode Island, Travefy in Get Started Omaha, Scraps on Scraps in Get Started Tucson and Feedback LLC in Get Started NOVA, EM Shield in Las Vegas and Food 4 Good in Rhode Island. 

About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and home security and automation services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and digital media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For eight years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity nine times, including the last eight years. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

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SOURCE Cox Communications

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