Erica Nicole, YFS Magazine’s Founder and CEO, selected to judge 2013 Microsoft Imagine Cup, the world’s most prestigious student technology competition, bringing together student innovators from all over the world.
DALLAS, TX – January 13, 2013 – Erica Nicole, YFS Magazine’s Founder and CEO, has been selected as an esteemed judge for the 2013 Microsoft Imagine Cup— the world’s premier student technology competition, in its 11th year.
The global, yearlong competition culminates in a Worldwide Finals event, to take place in St. Petersburg, Russia, July 8–11, 2013. Worldwide Finalists will also have the chance to apply for Microsoft Imagine Cup Grants as part of a three-year, $3 million investment by Microsoft to help students turn their ideas into reality.
“Imagine Cup is the beginning of a lifelong journey for a young entrepreneur, inventor, designer, developer or innovator,” said John Scott Tynes, Imagine Cup competition strategy and development manager.
Erica Nicole echoed Tynes’ sentiment by asserting that, “It is immensely rewarding to witness students changing the world – one business idea at a time. Entrepreneurship competitions present an excellent platform for feedback, validation, visibility and funding — I am honored to be a part of that process,” says Erica Nicole.
Erica Nicole suggests that “This year’s theme, ‘Dream it. Build it. Live it,’ is the true personification of what it means to boldly and actively pursue entrepreneurship and YFS Magazine is proud to support and reinforce Microsoft’s vision throughout the small business community at large.”
In the past decade, 1.65 million students from 190 countries have participated in Imagine Cup and have received $1.75 million in awards, prize funds and grants. This is the 11th year of Imagine Cup — it started in 2003 with just 2,000 students from 25 countries.
This year students compete in teams of up to four people in Competitions, including World Citizenship, Games and Innovation. As they advance through multiple rounds of the competition either online or through in-person local finals events until they are selected to compete at the Worldwide Finals event, where winners will be awarded cash prizes totaling more than US$300,000.
To learn more visit www.imaginecup.com.
About Microsoft Imagine Cup 2013
Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition. It provides an opportunity for student technologists, aspiring entrepreneurs, developers and students from all academic backgrounds to collaborate, develop a technology, create a business plan and gain a keen understanding of what they need to bring their concept to market. The brightest young minds join together to exemplify the power of student innovation. Learn more at www.imaginecup.com.
About Erica Nicole
Erica Nicole is an accomplished serial entrepreneur, acclaimed small business expert, dynamic speaker, syndicated columnist, philanthropist and Christian thought leader. Erica is best known by the entrepreneurial community as the Founder and CEO of YFS Magazine: Young, Fabulous & Self-Employed (yfsmagazine.com) an internationally acclaimed and award-winning small business news site – the definitive digital magazine for startup, small business news and entrepreneurial culture.
As an entrepreneurial change-agent, Erica Nicole been featured in national media outlets including Forbes.com, Portfolio.com, Fox Business, MSN Business on Main, The Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, American Express OPEN Forum, Business Insider, AllBusiness.com, Mashable, AOL.com, Examiner.com and many more. Learn more at ericanicoleinternational.com.
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