Think TED talks meets Summit Series meets a pitch day. Throw in 1000 entrepreneurs pursuing ideas for social good, and you’ve got Plywood Presents, the annual conference put on by Atlanta-based nonprofit Plywood People. Led by an entrepreneur in his own right, Jeff Shinabarger (in addition to founding Plywood People, the man has worked with over 100 startups), the conference serves as a platform to connect leaders who are finding new solutions to help others.
Today, Plywood Presents opened applications for its Idea Competition, a modified pitch event where five selected startups present their ideas in front of the entire conference audience. The startups have five minutes and five or less slides to wow the audience with the potential of their plan.
The winning startup receives $5,000, with second and third place winners receiving $500 each, and an invitation to Plywood Retreat, a training camp for social entrepreneurs, and access to the online learning tool Path by Plywood (total value of over $10,000).
Last year first place was taken by the Automotive Training Center, a program that provides young men from low-income areas of Atlanta with technical training in the automotive industry. Edison Bikes, an electric bicycle — that’s right, a bike with a battery!— that enables riders to travel farther faster, took home second place.
Startups must be nominated by Monday, June 5.
Plywood Presents: Edison Bicycles from Edison Bicycles on Vimeo.