The Competition

The Alaska Marketplace brings together visionaries, financiers, technical experts and entrepreneurs in an ideas competition that promotes new organizational concepts which employ innovative ways of delivering and selling products and services, creating jobs, increasing revenue, driving economic development and serving our communities in rural Alaska.

Innovators are invited to submit a Innovative Idea Application describing their unique ideas for creating jobs, stimulating village economies and bettering our communities. Proposals will be evaluated by a group of private and public sector professionals based on the following evaluation criteria: 1) cultural heritage, 2) economic stimulation/job creation, 3) innovation,and 4) sustainability/profitability. The innovators with the most promising proposals become finalists and receive entrepreneurial training and business plan coaching to refine their concepts. Funds will be awarded in October 2007 for the winners to develop and implement their business plans.

Innovative Idea Application forms will be available online in early July and must be submitted by September 2008. Finalists will be selected in September and will be required to submit a detailed implementation plan for their project. In late October 2007, the finalists will showcase their ideas at the Alaska Marketplace, held at the annual Alaska Federation of Natives Convention. A world-class panel of experts will grant award money to each of the innovators judged most likely to turn their ideas into action.

The Alaska Marketplace was created to draw from, inspire and encourage the development of viable and sustainable businesses and organizations by tapping into the creative passions, cultural knowledge and enthusiastic drive of Alaska's residents.