Big Ideas, Small Towns: The 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge Spotlights Edwardsville, KS

Ideas can come from anywhere.  A lot of times, big ideas come from places like Silicon Valley, Austin and Boston.  Other times, great ideas come from smaller cities like Kansas City and Omaha.  But knockout ideas don't have to come from these well-known cities.  In fact, big ideas can come from very small places.  Like Edwardsville, Kansas.

A little over a month ago, we blasted out a blog about The 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge, a business plan competition in which InQuest Marketing would offer 25 hours of straight work for one lucky winner.  And now, InQuest Marketing has announced the winner of the Challenge: Martha Forshey of Edwardsville, Kansas.  Forshey developed an innovative product for the sports and recreation industry that InQuest Marketing will dedicate 25 straight hours of marketing towards on October 13th, 2011. 

Who knew that this winning idea would come from such a small town in Kansas?  Martha Forshey has proven that great ideas can come from anywhere

Other businesses have been founded and headquartered in small cities.  Take State Farm Insurance.  This company is headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois.  Whirlpool headquarters in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  Signature Foods?  Pendergrass, Georgia. 

Remember that no matter where you are, you can create an amazing business.  It all starts with an idea-but where that idea percolates is up to you.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Last Chance to Enter the 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge!

Looking for a little marketing help but not quite sure where to get it?  Why not shoot for 25 hours of free marketing from one of Kansas City's marketing firms? The 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge will award one lucky entrepreneur with a free 25-hour-straight work session performed by the staff of InQuest Marketing during the month of October.  This package could include a business plan, marketing plan, media plan, creative concept, or digital solutions plan. 

But time is running out!  Entries are due on Friday, September 9, at 11:59pm!  That gives you two days to "wow" the InQuest Marketing team, prepare to talk about your awesome business idea, and (hopefully) gear up for some effective marketing work!

Interested? Apply online now at the 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge site. Good luck and be sure to Think Big!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

The 25-Hour Day: InQuest Marketing Makes it Possible

"Who doesn't want an extra hour in their day?" asks Jody Hanson of InQuest Marketing.

An extra hour can be spent working on a big project, spending time with family, taking a longer lunch or traveling to a different side of the country.  Everybody could use an extra hour in the day, but the people who need 25 hours the most seem to be entrepreneurs.

Which is why InQuest Marketing has decided to host The 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge -- a competition in which entrepreneurs throughout Kansas City can submit their ideas with the hopes of winning 25 straight hours of marketing services from InQuest.  InQuest is geared up to provide deliverables such as research marketing, creative design help, business plan development, media strategy, and other marketing aspects to one lucky entrepreneurial winner for 25 hours straight in order to benchmark the company's 25th anniversary. 

"Our core passion has always been helping innovators, entrepreneurs, business owners and true visionaries accomplish their goals," says Jody, PR account executive at InQuest.  "The 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge fits right in with that passion and allows us to give back to Kansas City."

The 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge is looking for the next big idea -- it could be a product or service that's currently not on the market, an invention that needs tinkering, or a business idea that's always been in the back of your mind.  After submitting the big idea, InQuest will hold a 25-hour work session, at no cost, to one standout winner. 

"We are looking for a well-thought out idea and someone who believes in it," says Jody.  "We want to promote entrepreneurship and help people bring their ideas to life."

To apply for The 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge, visit InQuest Marketing online and fill out the application.  Who knows?  Maybe you will get the chance to have a 25-hour work day.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig