Everywhere you look, a new kind of energy is emerging from the Tulsa business community. On Thursday, April 2, the 3rd annual Mayor’s Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Award business model competition, sponsored by SpiritBank kicked off at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.

The evening celebrated with the past year’s winners including, SeekingSitters and Grocio.com. They shared their stories of growth over the past year, and how the Spirit Award has continued to support and encourage their businesses.

On June 4, 2009 the top 25 Executive Summaries will be announced and invited to their submit their full business plan. The business plans will be reviewed, and each business will have seven minutes to pitch their business model idea to the panel of Spirit Award judges on July 8 – 9, 2009.

The top 12 will be announced Thursday, July 16, and will have the opportunity to be “coached” by local business professionals on areas that they improve their pitch techniques and business plans. The top 12 will have five minutes to pitch their idea on September 12 with hopes of making it to the final seven.

The seven finalists will be announced on Sunday, September 20, 2009. For the final time, the finalists will work with the coaches to before prepare for their last pitch, which is only two minutes, to the panel of judges.

The winners of the Spirit Award will be announced during Global Entrepreneurship Week on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. SpiritBank will present checks to the winners: $30,000 for first place, $5,000 for second place and $2,500 for third place.

So what are you waiting for Tulsa? Unleash your Big Idea!

The call to entries are open, business executive summaries can be submitted to the website, www.tulsaspiritaward.com until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2009.

Need more reasons to enter the 2009 Mayor Taylor’s Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Award? Check out the top ten list at www.tulsabusiness.com