All Over Albany

Come see the AOA Startup Grant final presentations

2012 Startup Grant winner 3 Chicks and a P making their presentation to the judges.

The application deadline for this year's AOA Startup Grant is fast approaching! It's this Friday, April 3 at 11:59 pm -- here's the info you need -- don't wait!!!

Voting starts next week, with the finalists' presentations two weeks later. And for the first time, those presentations will be open to the public.

On Monday, April 20 the three finalists will be at the College of Saint Rose to pitch their ideas to our panel of judges. The 20-minute presentations start at 6:30 pm in the Science Center (993 Madison Ave) Room 369. It's free to attend, we just ask that you register ahead of time.

This year's judges are:

+ Lissa D'Aquanni: director of community relations at the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, and former small business owner.

+ Rhea Drysdale: founder and CEO of Troy-based online marketing firm Outspoken Media.

+ Update: Due to an unexpected schedule conflict, Vic Christopher won't be able to join us. In his place we'll have Duncan Crary of Duncan Crary Communications.

The final presentations are interesting not just because of what the finalists have to say, but also because of the questions the judges ask, and the back-and-forth. After the presentations, the judges will gather in a closed session to determine the winner, which will be announced later that week on AOA.

Thanks to Berkshire Bank for providing the prize money and to Staff Ciampino & Company P.C., Certified Public Accountants and The Huether School of Business at the College of Saint Rose for sponsoring the contest this year.