"Shark Tank" Panelist to Host COSE Business Pitch Competition that Will Award $40,000 in Prize Money

CLEVELAND, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) has launched a "Business Pitch Competition" similar to the concept of the popular ABC reality TV show, Shark Tank.  In fact, actual Shark Tank panelist Daymond John will be one of the judges at the COSE event, to be held on Tuesday, October 18 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Pickwick and Frolic on East Fourth Street in Downtown Cleveland.  

John, founder of the iconic fashion brand, FUBU, will be in Cleveland to deliver a keynote address at COSE's annual Small Business Conference the next morning on Wednesday, October 19 at the IX Center in Cleveland.  COSE is inviting anyone with a great business idea to present their concept and possibly qualify for part of the $40,000 in prize money.

To have a business idea considered, participants need to provide an executive summary and a two (2) minute video to COSE by the deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday, September 16.  The top 20 ideas will advance on to secondary judging and eventually the top four business ideas will get the chance to present in front of John and other expert panelist at the Pickwick and Frolic event.  

"We feel fortunate to have Daymond part of our Conference this year and we thought about how we could build on this excitement and tie-in his TV work with aspiring entrepreneurs," said Steve Millard, president and executive director of COSE.  "We hear almost daily from small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs right here in our region with great business ideas, so we thought why not expose Daymond to some of the best that Cleveland has to offer?."

For a full list of contest details and rules, go to www.cose.org/pitch.  All entries must be delivered by the deadline via email or regular mail to:

Megan Kim
Director, Education & Programs
COSE
1240 Huron Road E, Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44115.  
[email protected]

If you have questions, please contact Megan at (216) 592-2356.

About COSE
COSE is one of Ohio's largest small business support organizations, striving to help small businesses grow and maintain their independence. Comprised of more than 15,000 member companies, COSE has a long history of fighting for the rights of all small business owners through group purchasing programs for health care, workers' compensation, or energy, advocating for specific changes in legislation or regulation to benefit small business, or providing a forum and resource for small businesses to connect with and learn from each other. (www.cose.org)

SOURCE Council of Smaller Enterprises