Cox Business and Inc. Magazine Offer Local Start-Ups Chance to Win Technology and Media Prize Package at "Get Started Hampton Roads"

Experts on hand to provide guidance and tips to Hampton Roads entrepreneurs in fast-moving business pitch contest

CHESAPEAKE, Va., May 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Business and Inc. Magazine are presenting Get Started Hampton Roads, a business pitch competition, Wednesday, June 17, at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Virginia Beach. Registration is now open for both attendees and pitch contestants at www.CoxBlue.com/GetStarted757. Local partners include Inside Business, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Cox Media and Cox 11. Get Started Hampton Roads 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, Cox Business technology package* and additional prizes from our local partners to drive business success. Local businesses not competing are encouraged to attend this free event for networking and learning opportunities from accomplished leaders in marketing, funding and business growth strategy.

The expert panel will include Porter Gale, marketing expert, author, advisor and former vice president of Marketing at Virgin America; Diana Ransom, editor at Inc. Magazine; Kevin Wilson, local venture capitalist and CEO of Mosquito Joe; and W. Adam Boyd, CEO of ToCharge. Cox Business 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 new small and medium-sized businesses and inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit in our local communities," said Thom Watkins, sales director for Cox Business in Virginia. "We're looking forward to an exciting week celebrating entrepreneurs in the region; in addition to hosting Get Started Hampton Roads, Cox Business will also host Entrepreneurial Spirit Soaring in Hampton Roads: Turning passion, innovation and creativity into success as part of its Executive Discussion Series. These events provide opportunities for both start-ups and mature businesses to learn from experts as they work toward building and sustaining a successful business."

Businesses or individuals interested in pitching their business ideas to the panel can visit www.CoxBlue.com/GetStarted757 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 11:59p.m. on June 9, 2015. Cox Business will select up to five finalists who will present their pitches live the evening of Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Entrants will be notified by June 12, 2015 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 Hampton Roads 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 thirteenth in the Get Started series by Cox Business and Inc. Magazine nationwide. In 2014, Shawn McDonald, founder and president of FeedbacK Enterprise, LLC, won the Get Started NOVA competition last year. FeedbacK™ products are designed to deliver personalized, adaptive and instant feedback coaching. Their flagship project, FeedbacK Golf, uses a hands-free voice command and smart phone technology to record an individual's golf swing at the driving range and present instant feedback. Other past winners from events across the country include ScanMed QR in Get Started OKC, Fusion Cross-Media in Get Stated CT, Post-Op Top in Get Started OC and Care Technology, LLC in the Get Started RI competition.

About Cox Business 
Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 330,000 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, telephone and home security and automation 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 digital 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 10 times, including the last nine 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.
Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today's innovative company builders. Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 7,000,000 today. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com/ .

*Location must be serviceable in the Hampton Roads market.

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SOURCE Cox Business

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