This looks pretty interesting. Below are two press releases about an upcoming competition that is a bit unlike your normal architect focused competition. Instead of focusing on design, it focuses on BUSINESS. You have two weeks to register and then another month to enter the first part. For any of us that qualify this should be a no brainer. If nothing else, think of it as an excuse to codify your business plan and maybe win some money as a result. Anyways good luck and here are the details:

Architecture Business Plan Competition Announced

Charrette Venture Group has announced a business plan competition for architects who are considering starting their own design firm and for existing architectural firms that have been in business for five years or less. The first prize winner of the competition will receive $10,000.

Des Moines, Iowa, January 22, 2014 Charrette Venture Group has announced a business plan competition for architects who are considering starting their own design firm and for existing architectural firms that have been in business for five years or less. The first prize winner of the competition will receive $10,000.

Eligible participants must be a licensed architect in the U.S. or Canada, and, if operating an existing design firm, must have been in business for five years or less. Interested architects should register online by March 28, 2014, and an executive summary of their business plan must be submitted by April 25, 2014. The winners will be announced at a special reception in Chicago, Illinois during the American Institute of Architect’s national convention on June 26, 2014. There is no cost to enter the competition. For detailed rules, the full competition timeline, and additional resources on how to write a business plan, please visit the competition website at http://www.architectbusinessplancompetition.com.

“The architecture profession is filled with many talented, creative individuals, and it is a highly entrepreneurial profession with many architects choosing to launch their own firms. However, the importance of entrepreneurship is often times overlooked or understated,” said Matt Ostanik, President and Founder, Charrette Venture Group, and himself a registered architect in state of Iowa. “The goal of the competition is to encourage more architects to start their own firms and to inspire a broader dialog about the role of entrepreneurship in our profession.”

Competition Jury Members Announced

Charrette Venture Group has announced the jury for the 2014 Architecture Business Plan Competition. The jury is comprised of business leaders with extensive experience in architecture and design business leadership.

Des Moines, Iowa, March 03, 2014 The 2014 Architecture Business Plan Competition has announced the members of the competition jury. Comprised of business leaders with extensive experience in architecture and design, the jury will evaluate entries and select honorees for the business plan competition. The competition is open to architects who are considering starting their own design firm and for existing architectural firms that have been in business for five years or less, and the first prize winner will receive $10,000.

The 2014 jury members:

Bob Fisher is a principal of the Greenway Group and the associate publisher of DesignIntelligence. He brings a deep understanding of market and business strategies that help clients in the A/E/C and design industry develop best-of-class positioning, branding, and marketing programs. Bob also writes about business and design and is a guest lecturer for industry groups and colleges on the topics of business foresight, communication and professional practice.

Rena M. Klein, FAIA, is a nationally recognized expert in small firm practice and author of The Architect’s Guide to Small Firm Management (Wiley, 2010). She is principal of RM Klein Consulting, helping design firm owners run their firms better. With 20 years experience as the owner of a small architectural firm, and over 10 years as a consultant and educator, Rena brings a special understanding of design firms managed by entrepreneurial architects.

Mark R. LePage, AIA, is a founder and partner at Fivecat Studio Architecture in New York, a leading residential design firm. He is the founder of Entrepreneur Architect, an online education resource helping architects to build better businesses, and he is the host of the Entrepreneur Architect Podcast series. Mark focuses on teaching sole proprietors, small firm architects and students the importance of business success in the profession of architecture.

Oscia Wilson is founder and chief executive officer of Boiled Architecture in San Francisco, a firm focusing on collaborative project delivery for commercial projects. She has an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and she frequently speaks about topics related to growing an architectural firm. As the founder of a three-year old firm, she brings a special perspective on the challenges of starting a new business. She is also the founder of the Women Entrepreneurship Retreat.

Matt Ostanik, AIA, is the founder of the Architecture Business Plan Competition and the president of Charrette Venture Group. He is the former founder of Submittal Exchange, a web-based construction software firm whose solutions are used by architects across North America. Submittal Exchange was acquired by Textura Corporation in 2011, and Matt served on the executive team that led Textura through a successful IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in 2013.

About Charrette Venture Group

Charrette Venture Group, LLC is a consulting firm focused on supporting entrepreneurs in architecture and design.