About the Competition
 
  The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, a top-ranked U.S. business school with Executive MBA and custom executive education programs in China, has launched the Win in China - Smith Business Plan Competition. As the exclusive academic partner for CCTV's Win in China, the Smith School will award up to $100,000 worth of scholarships to its world-class executive education programs to the winners of the Win in China reality television program, and is cooperating with CCTV to deliver the Win in China - Smith Business Plan Competition.

  The Win in China - Smith Business Plan Competition gives teams of entrepreneurs from around the world the chance to compete for eight grand prizes valued at $100,000, as well as cash prizes for the top three winners totaling $50,000. The grand prizes will award all-expense-paid trips to the Smith School's Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship in the United States for training with Smith's world-class professors. The training will focus on entrepreneurship and will include individual coaching, specialized courses and presentations, and visits to local science parks and incubators. The competition's key organizers include the Dingman Center and CCTV Win in China.

  Now in its successful third year, the Smith School sponsors its annual China Business Plan Competition in support of the growth of world-class business ideas and business leaders in China. With its focus on globalization, entrepreneurship and technology, the Smith School is ideally positioned to share its leadership in these areas as part of its commitment to the China market.

  More information about the Win in China - Smith Business Plan Competition can be found at the Smith China Website or at www.CYE.com.cn, the competition's official portal, and partnership Websites Yahoo! and www.sinovc1st.com.

  Who can enter?

  Teams of up to four individuals are invited to submit business ideas focused on the integration of business and technology. Key competition dates are as follows:

  September 29, 2006 - launch of the competition. Entries consisting of a two-page business summary will be accepted online until January 1, 2007
February 15, 2007 - semi-finalist announcement. Semi-finalists will be asked to develop a 15-25 page business plan,which will be accepted until

  March 30, 2007

  April 16, 2007 - final round notification to finalists

  June 2007 - final round competition. Ten selected finalists will make 10-minute presentations of their business plans as well as participate in a feedback session with the judges. The judges for the final round will include representatives of leading venture capital firms.