Cox Business and Inc. Magazine Offer Local Start-Ups Chance to Win $10,000+ Prize Package at "Get Started NOVA"

Experts on hand to provide guidance and tips to Northern Virginia entrepreneurs in fast-moving business pitch contest; seats available for live event

HERNDON, Va., July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Business and Inc. Magazine are presenting Get Started NOVA, a business pitch competition, Thursday, August 21 at the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) in Herndon.  Registration is now open for both attendees and pitch contestants at www.CoxBlue.com/GetStartedNOVA.  Local partners include The Washington Business Journal, Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, and The Entrepreneur Center@NVTC.

Get Started NOVA will highlight up to five entrepreneurs who will pitch their ideas to a distinguished panel of experts.  One winner will be named and will receive a prize package valued at more than $10,000 which includes a $5,000 cash prize, a Cox Business technology package* and additional prizes from our local partners.  Local businesses not competing are encouraged to attend this free event for networking and learning opportunities from accomplished leaders in digital marketing, funding and business growth strategy.

The expert panel will include Ted Rubin, social marketing strategist, brand evangelist and CMO, Michael Bare, president of Bare International and Josh Linker, author of Disciplined Dreaming and CEO and managing partner of Detroit Venture Partners.  Kris Frieswick, senior editor at Inc., will be moderating the session and providing feedback.  Each panelist is designed to bring a unique expertise to ensure finalists receive advice in many aspects of starting a business.

"Cox Business is dedicated to supporting the development of small and medium-sized businesses and inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit in our local communities," said Thomas Watkins, interim vice president for Cox Business Virginia.  "Get Started NOVA is a great opportunity for both start-ups and mature businesses to learn from the experts on the panel and network with one another."

Businesses or individuals interested in pitching their business ideas to the panel can visit www.coxblue.com/getstartedNOVA to enter and to view the official rules.  Applicants must provide a 250 words or less description of the proposed product or service pitch.  All entries must be received by 12:01a.m. on August 8, 2014.  Cox Business will select up to five finalists who will present their pitches live the evening of Thursday, August 21.  Entrants will be notified by August 12, 2014 if they are selected to pitch in the live event.

Finalists will have two minutes to pitch their business idea to the expert panel and will receive immediate feedback.  The panelists will then determine the best pitch and winner of the contest based on innovation, ease of implementation and the benefit it brings to the local community.

Get Started NOVA will begin at 5:30pm with networking and will include food, drinks and an unforgettable educational opportunity for local businesses.  An interactive Q&A will take place with the expert panel and live audience immediately following the pitches.

This is the seventh event in the Get Started series by Cox Business and Inc. magazine nationwide.  Past winners include ScanMed QR in Get Started OKC, Fusion Cross-Media in Get Stated CT, Post-Op Top in Get Started OC, Care Technology, LLC in Get Started RI, Travefy in Get Started Omaha and Scraps on Scraps in the Get Started Tucson competition.

*Location must be serviceable in the Northern Virginia market.

About Cox Business
Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 300,000 small and regional businesses, including healthcare providers, K-12 and higher education, financial institutions and federal, state and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division. According to Vertical Systems Group, Cox Business is one of the largest providers of business Ethernet services in the U.S. based on customer ports and has been consistently recognized for its leadership among small/midsize business data service providers. Cox is currently the seventh largest voice service provider in the U.S. and supports one million phone lines. For more information about Cox Business, Click Here or call 1-800-396-1609.

About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet and telephone 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 new 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.

About Inc.
Inc., the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, delivers real solutions for today's innovative company builders.  It provides hands-on resources and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing and technology.  In addition, Inc. looks beyond work to address the entrepreneurial lifestyle.  Inc. inspires and informs, with cutting-edge coverage that reflects its readers' energy, brashness and imagination.

SOURCE Cox Business

For further information: Emma Inman, APR, 757.222.8432, emma.inman@cox.com, or Shana Keith, 404.269.0942, shana.keith@cox.com