CCBC accepting entries for 13th Annual Business Plan Competition

CCBC’s Center for Business Innovation and Trades is accepting entries to its 13th Annual Business Plan Competition, offering a top prize of $25K for a budding entrepreneur. A total of $80,000 in seed money will be awarded among the top six finalists. The deadline to register is Oct. 5, 2025.

The competition is open to current or former students who have completed at least 15 CCBC credits within the last five years, an alum of a CCBC credit degree or certificate program or a CCBC noncredit graduate of any program/certificate or apprenticeship program

Participants receive:

• Access to invitation-only workshops designed to help develop a strategic plan, marketing plan and financial plan — the core elements of a viable business plan.
• Guidance from other entrepreneurs and business owners who serve as mentors.
• An opportunity to earn seed money that can be used to help launch a business.

Prize money is made possible by the generous support of the Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation, which has awarded more than $2 million in grant funding to expand the Center for Business Innovation and Trades. In addition to the start-up capital to support entrepreneurs, the grant provides instructional support to develop new courses and workshops to strengthen the business acumen for those interested in starting a new business.

Since 2013, CCBC’s Annual Business Plan Competition has helped launch 65 new businesses and distributed nearly $500,000 in seed money. Over the last 12 years, more than 5,000 people have engaged with CBIT’s business programs, and 2,980 people have earned college and continuing education credits in a variety of entrepreneurial courses and workshops.

For more information or to register for the Business Plan Competition, visit ccbcmd.edu/innovation.