81_FR_96407 81 FR 96157 - Announcement of InnovateHER: Innovating for Women Business Challenge 2017

81 FR 96157 - Announcement of InnovateHER: Innovating for Women Business Challenge 2017

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 250 (December 29, 2016)

Page Range96157-96159
FR Document2016-31470

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is conducting the third year of the InnovateHER: Innovating for Women Challenge (the Challenge), pursuant to the America Competes Act, for entrepreneurs to create a product or service that has a measurable impact on the lives of women and families, the potential for commercialization, and fills a need in the marketplace.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96157-96159]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31470]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Announcement of InnovateHER: Innovating for Women Business 
Challenge 2017

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is conducting the 
third year of the InnovateHER: Innovating for Women Challenge (the 
Challenge), pursuant to the America Competes Act, for entrepreneurs to 
create a product or service that has a measurable impact on the lives 
of women and families, the potential for commercialization, and fills a 
need in the marketplace.

DATES: The Challenge launches on December 29, 2016. The initial round 
of the Challenge will take the form of local competitions that will be 
run across the country beginning December 29, 2016, and ending no later 
than April 29, 2017. The host organizations running the local 
competitions must select and submit one winner from each local 
competition to SBA, along with a nomination package, no later than May 
12, 2017. SBA will then select up to ten finalists. The top three 
winners will be announced no later than July 27, 2017, following a live 
pitch competition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Simona Duffin, Office of 
Entrepreneurial Development, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 
Third Street SW., 6th Floor,

[[Page 96158]]

Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205-4401, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Subject of Challenge Competition: The SBA is looking for 
innovative products and services that help impact and empower the lives 
of women and families. We know that our workforce looks very different 
from 50 years ago. Women now make up nearly half of the labor force and 
play a critical role in our nation's economic prosperity. Most children 
live in households where all parents work. And as our population ages, 
families are increasingly caring for aging parents while balancing the 
needs of work and home. As the demands on women and families grow, the 
need for products and services that address these unique challenges 
increases. This Challenge will provide a platform to fulfill that need.
    Contestants must develop a product or service that meets the 
following competition criteria:
     Has a measurable impact on the lives of women and families 
(30%);
     Has the potential for commercialization (40%); and
     Fills a need in the marketplace (30%).
    2. Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Challenge: This 
Challenge is open only to: (a) Citizens or permanent residents of the 
United States who are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time 
of their submission of an entry (or teams of such individuals); and (b) 
private entities, such as corporations or other organizations, that are 
incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United 
States. Individuals submitting on behalf of corporations, nonprofits, 
or groups of individuals (such as an academic class or other team) must 
meet the eligibility requirements for individual contestants. An 
individual may belong to more than one team submitting an entry in this 
Challenge. SBA employees are not eligible, nor are Federal entities or 
other Federal employees acting within the scope of their employment. 
Individuals or organizations that are currently suspended or disbarred 
by the federal government are not eligible for this Challenge.
    3. Registration Process for Participants: The Challenge launches on 
December 29, 2016. The initial round of the Challenge will take the 
form of local competitions that will be run across the country from 
December 29, 2016, and ending no later than April 29, 2017, by host 
organizations such as universities, accelerators, clusters, scale-up 
communities, and SBA Resource Partners. For more information regarding 
these local competitions as it becomes available, please visit 
www.sba.gov/InnovateHER. SBA will continue to update the list of local 
competitions as details are confirmed. While these local competitions 
will be identified as part of the national InnovateHER Challenge and 
will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with these Challenge 
rules, they will be administered solely by the local host organizations 
and will be judged by individuals selected by each host in their sole 
discretion. At a minimum, however, each application must contain a 
business plan covering the contestant's proposed product or service and 
must satisfy the Challenge criteria identified by SBA in this notice.
    Following the completion of the local competitions, each host 
organization will identify one winner that will advance to the semi-
final round of the Challenge. For a winning entry that has been 
submitted by a team of competitors, the host organization must list the 
team's self-identified project leader as the winner who will advance to 
the semi-final round. No later than May 12, 2017, each host 
organization will submit a nomination package containing the winning 
individual/team's business plan and other required information to SBA, 
which will administer the semi-final and final rounds of the Challenge. 
Selection as a semi-finalist following a local competition is the only 
means of registering for the Challenge. All nominations will be 
screened by SBA for eligibility. Contestants cannot submit entries 
directly to SBA.
    4. Prize for Winners: Cash prizes totaling $70,000 will be awarded 
to the three highest-rated contestants in the final round of the 
competition in the following amounts:

1st Place--$40,000
2nd Place--$20,000
3rd Place--$10,000

    For winning entries submitted by teams of competitors, prize money 
will be awarded to the self-identified project leader for distribution 
to the rest of the team at their discretion and independently from SBA.
    5. Process for Host Organizations:
    Initial Round--Local Competitions. Organizations that wish to host 
a local competition as part of the initial round of this Challenge must 
send a request to the SBA at [email protected] no later than March 
10, 2017, with the following information:
    a. The organization's official legal name, street address, city, 
state;
    b. Web site of the organization (if applicable);
    c. The name of the organization's designated Point of Contact (POC) 
for the competition, his/her email address, and phone number.
    SBA will evaluate all requests to host a local InnovateHER 
competition in its sole discretion and will confirm a host's 
participation in writing. Additionally, with some exceptions, 
organizations that wish to host an InnovateHER competition will be 
required to agree to the terms of a Co-sponsorship Agreement with the 
SBA that defines the scope of the relationship for the purposes of 
InnovateHER and outlines the co-promotion and marketing terms. SBA will 
notify prospective hosts if such agreement is required. SBA will reject 
any nomination package submitted to the SBA by an organization that has 
not been officially confirmed by SBA to participate in the InnovateHER 
Challenge. Additionally, each host organization will determine the type 
of local competition, conducted in a manner that is consistent with 
these Challenge Rules, that will best identify the most innovative and 
entrepreneurial business ideas, including the type of application that 
individuals need to prepare in order to compete, and will publicize the 
competition locally. Host organizations should also notify SBA of the 
date and location of the local competitions for the purposes of 
publication at sba.gov/InnovateHER.
    Semi-Final Round--Submission of Local Winners. No later than May 
12, 2017, host organizations must select and submit one winner from the 
local competition along with a nomination package to SBA through the 
www.Challenge.gov Web site. The nomination package must contain all of 
the following items:
    (a) A single cover page detailing--
    (i) The Name of the winning individual (in the case of a winning 
team, please provide the name of the team's self-identified project 
lead); Company name (if applicable); Product/Service Name; Company 
Address, City, State, and Place of Incorporation (if applicable); 
Product/Service Web site (if applicable); telephone number of winning 
individual; and his/her email address.
    (ii) The host organization's official legal name, street address, 
city, state, designated POC, and his/her best contact number and email 
address. (Note: This information must match the information provided by 
the organization as part of its request to SBA to host a local 
competition.);
    (iii) A concise, two-sentence description of the product or 
service. (Note: This description may also be in

[[Page 96159]]

promotional or informational materials in connection with InnovateHER.)
    (b) A Business Plan from the winning individual/team (maximum 
length: 20 pages, including attachments).
    (c) A signed Statement of Support prepared by the host organization 
that explains why the winner of the local competition best satisfied 
the competition criteria and presented the greatest potential for 
success (maximum length: 2 pages). Each host organization is 
responsible for preparing the complete nomination package, including 
obtaining a copy of the relevant Business Plan from the winner and 
ensuring that the full package is timely submitted to the SBA via the 
www.Challenge.gov Web site.
    6. Selection of Winners.
    Semi-Final Round. In the semi-final round of the Challenge, SBA 
will review the semi-finalist nomination packages submitted by the 
local competition host organizations and select up to 10 finalists 
whose products or services, in SBA's sole judgment, best satisfy the 
competition criteria identified in Paragraph 1 of this Challenge 
announcement and present the greatest potential for success. In 
addition, in order to achieve nationwide distribution of prizes for the 
purpose of stimulating the growth and development of new products and 
services across the entire United States and across a diverse range of 
project types, SBA may take into account nominees' geographic locations 
when selecting winners, including support to geographic regions that 
traditionally have limited access to capital, as well as diversity in 
the types of products and services. Finalists selected by SBA will be 
required to sign a form certifying that they meet the eligibility 
requirements identified in Paragraph 2 above and have complied with 
these Challenge Rules.
    Final Round. Each finalist will be offered the opportunity to 
participate in the InnovateHER Final Challenge to be held on July 27, 
2017 where they will make a live marketing pitch to a panel of expert 
judges drawn from the private sector. The panel of judges will select 
the three finalists whose pitches, in their sole judgment, best satisfy 
the competition criteria and present the greatest potential for success 
and rank them in descending order. Finalists will be responsible for 
covering their own travel costs for the national competition.
    7. Applicable Law: This Challenge is being conducted by SBA 
pursuant to the America Competes Act (15 U.S.C. 3719) and is subject to 
all applicable federal laws and regulations. By participating in this 
Challenge, each contestant gives its full and unconditional agreement 
to the Challenge Rules and the related administrative decisions 
described in this notice, which are final and binding in all matters 
related to the Challenge. A contestant's eligibility for a prize award 
is contingent upon their fulfilling all requirements identified in this 
notice. Publication of this notice is not an obligation of funds on the 
part of SBA. All prize monies are funded through private sector 
sources. SBA, however, will coordinate with the private sector source 
regarding instructions for award of the prize purse. SBA reserves the 
right to modify or cancel this Challenge, in whole or in part, at any 
time prior to the award of prizes.
    8. Conflicts of Interest: No individual acting as a judge at any 
stage of this Challenge may have personal or financial interests in, or 
be an employee, officer, director, or agent of any contestant or have a 
familial or financial relationship with a contestant.
    9. Intellectual Property Rights: All entries submitted in response 
to this Challenge will remain the sole intellectual property of the 
individuals or organizations that developed them. By registering and 
entering a submission, each contestant represents and warrants that it 
is the sole author and copyright owner of the submission, and that the 
submission is an original work of the contestant, or if the submission 
is a work based on an existing application, that the contestant has 
acquired sufficient rights to use and to authorize others to use the 
submission, and that the submission does not infringe upon any 
copyright or upon any other third party rights of which the contestant 
is aware.
    10. Publicity Rights: By registering and entering a submission, 
each contestant consents to SBA's and its agents' use, in perpetuity, 
of its name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions, and/or hometown and 
state information for promotional or informational purposes through any 
form of media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. In 
addition, SBA may share the contact information of a contestant with 
its offices and agents in cases where it believes a contestant may 
benefit from, or be positioned to assist with, an activity or program 
sponsored or co-sponsored by SBA.
    11. Liability and Insurance Requirements: By registering and 
entering a submission, each contestant agrees to assume any and all 
risks and waive claims against the Federal Government and its related 
entities, except in the case of willful misconduct, for any injury, 
death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, whether 
direct, indirect, or consequential, arising from their participation in 
this Challenge, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises 
through negligence or otherwise. By registering and entering a 
submission, each contestant further represents and warrants that it 
possesses sufficient liability insurance or financial resources to 
cover claims by a third party for death, bodily injury, or property 
damage or loss resulting from any activity it carries out in connection 
with its participation in this Challenge, or claims by the Federal 
Government for damage or loss to Government property resulting from 
such an activity. Contest winners should be prepared to demonstrate 
proof of insurance or financial responsibility in the event SBA deems 
it necessary.
    12. Record Retention and Disclosure: All nomination packages and 
related materials provided to SBA in the semi-final and final rounds of 
the Challenge automatically become SBA records and cannot be returned. 
Contestants should identify any confidential commercial information 
contained in their entries at the time of their submission to the local 
Host Organization. SBA will notify contestants of any Freedom of 
Information Act requests the Agency receives related to their 
submissions in accordance with 13 CFR part 102.
    Award Approving Official: Bruce Purdy, (Acting) Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Women's Business Ownership, U.S. Small 
Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416.

    Authority: America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2010, 15 
U.S.C. 3719.

    Dated: December 22, 2016.
Bruce Purdy,
(Acting) Assistant Administrator, Office of Women's Business Ownership.
[FR Doc. 2016-31470 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025-01-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices                                                96157

                                                       (iii) Guide participants to explore                     (9) Intellectual Property Rights:                  financial responsibility in the event
                                                    their personal entrepreneurial interests                   (i) All entries submitted in response              SBA deems it necessary.
                                                    and visions;                                            to this competition will remain the sole                 (12) Record Retention and Disclosure:
                                                       (iv) Address topics such as process,                 intellectual property of the individuals              All submissions and related materials
                                                    strategy, financing, marketing, human                   or organizations that developed them.                 provided to SBA in the course of this
                                                    resources, leadership, contracting and                  By registering and entering a                         competition automatically become SBA
                                                    market/product development;                             submission, each contestant represents                records and cannot be returned.
                                                       (v) Guide all participants, by the end               and warrants that it is the sole author               Contestants shall identify any
                                                    of the training, to refine and draft a                  and copyright owner of the submission,                confidential commercial information
                                                    complete business plan.                                 and that the submission is an original                contained in their entries at the time of
                                                       (3) Mentoring:                                       work of the contestant, or if the                     their submission.
                                                       (i) Provide individualized support on                submission is a work based on an                         Award Approving Official: Lori
                                                    developing entrepreneurial skills and                   existing application, that the contestant             Gillen, Deputy Associate Administrator,
                                                    strategies.                                             has acquired sufficient rights to use and             Office of Entrepreneurial Development,
                                                       (4) Community Connections:                           to authorize others to use the                        U.S. Small Business Administration,
                                                       (i) Opportunities to connect with the                submission, and that the submission                   409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC
                                                    local business community and social                     does not infringe upon any copyright or               20416.
                                                    service providers to increase                           upon any other third party rights of
                                                    participants’ financial literacy.                                                                               Authority: America Competes
                                                                                                            which the contestant is aware.                        Reauthorization Act of 2010, 15 U.S.C. 3719.
                                                       (B) Access to Capital                                   (ii) The winning contestant will, in
                                                       (1) Access to micro-lending and other                consideration of the prize to be                      Maria Contreras-Sweet,
                                                    capital/funding opportunities: 2 (i) Link               awarded, grant to SBA an irrevocable,                 Administrator, U.S. Small Business
                                                    participants with participating                         royalty-free, exclusive worldwide                     Administration.
                                                    microlenders, including SBA Microloan                   license to reproduce, distribute, copy,               [FR Doc. 2016–31455 Filed 12–28–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    Intermediaries, when appropriate, to                    display, create derivative works, and                 BILLING CODE 8025–01–P
                                                    fund and grow new businesses;                           publicly post, link to, and share the
                                                       (ii) Provide Assistance to prepare to                solutions or parts thereof that are to be
                                                    meet with capital providers, preparing                  developed as a result of winning this                 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
                                                    proper documentation, matchmaking                       competition or for any official SBA
                                                    events with local lenders and funders,                  purpose.                                              Announcement of InnovateHER:
                                                    or business pitch events to angel                          (10) Publicity Rights: By registering              Innovating for Women Business
                                                    investors, for example.                                 and entering a submission, each                       Challenge 2017
                                                       (7) Applicable Law: This Competition
                                                                                                            contestant consents to SBA’s and its                  AGENCY: U.S. Small Business
                                                    is being conducted by SBA pursuant to
                                                                                                            agents’ use, in perpetuity, of its name,              Administration.
                                                    the America Competes Act (15 U.S.C.
                                                                                                            likeness, photograph, voice, opinions,
                                                    3719) and is subject to all applicable                                                                        ACTION: Notice.
                                                                                                            and/or hometown and state information
                                                    federal laws and regulations. By
                                                                                                            for promotional or informational
                                                    participating in this competition, each                                                                       SUMMARY:   The U.S. Small Business
                                                                                                            purposes through any form of media,
                                                    contestant gives its full and                                                                                 Administration (SBA) is conducting the
                                                                                                            worldwide, without further payment or
                                                    unconditional agreement to the Official                                                                       third year of the InnovateHER:
                                                                                                            consideration.
                                                    Rules, located on www.challenge.gov                                                                           Innovating for Women Challenge (the
                                                                                                               (11) Liability and Insurance                       Challenge), pursuant to the America
                                                    and the related administrative decisions
                                                                                                            Requirements: By registering and                      Competes Act, for entrepreneurs to
                                                    described in this notice, which are final
                                                                                                            entering a submission, each contestant                create a product or service that has a
                                                    and binding in all matters related to the
                                                                                                            agrees to assume any and all risks and                measurable impact on the lives of
                                                    competition. A contestant’s eligibility
                                                                                                            waive claims against the Federal                      women and families, the potential for
                                                    for a prize award is contingent upon its
                                                                                                            Government and its related entities,                  commercialization, and fills a need in
                                                    fulfilling all requirements identified in
                                                                                                            except in the case of willful misconduct,             the marketplace.
                                                    this notice and in the Official Rules.
                                                                                                            for any injury, death, damage, or loss of
                                                    Publication of this notice is not an                                                                          DATES: The Challenge launches on
                                                                                                            property, revenue, or profits, whether
                                                    obligation of funds on the part of SBA.                                                                       December 29, 2016. The initial round of
                                                                                                            direct, indirect, or consequential, arising
                                                    SBA reserves the right to modify or                                                                           the Challenge will take the form of local
                                                                                                            from their participation in this
                                                    cancel this competition, in whole or in                                                                       competitions that will be run across the
                                                                                                            competition, whether the injury, death,
                                                    part, at any time prior to the award of                                                                       country beginning December 29, 2016,
                                                                                                            damage, or loss arises through
                                                    prizes.                                                                                                       and ending no later than April 29, 2017.
                                                                                                            negligence or otherwise. By registering
                                                       (8) Conflicts of Interest: No individual                                                                   The host organizations running the local
                                                                                                            and entering a submission, each
                                                    acting as a judge at any stage of this                                                                        competitions must select and submit
                                                                                                            contestant further represents and
                                                    competition may have personal or                                                                              one winner from each local competition
                                                                                                            warrants that it possesses sufficient
                                                    financial interests in, or be an employee,                                                                    to SBA, along with a nomination
                                                                                                            liability insurance or financial resources
                                                    officer, director, or agent of any                                                                            package, no later than May 12, 2017.
                                                                                                            to cover claims by a third party for
                                                    contestant or have a familial or financial                                                                    SBA will then select up to ten finalists.
                                                                                                            death, bodily injury, or property damage
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                                                    relationship with a contestant.                                                                               The top three winners will be
                                                                                                            or loss resulting from any activity it
                                                                                                            carries out in connection with its                    announced no later than July 27, 2017,
                                                       2 In 2015, the SBA published a final rule for its
                                                                                                            participation in this competition, or                 following a live pitch competition.
                                                    Microloan Program allowing microloans to be made
                                                    by SBA Microloan Intermediaries to small                claims by the Federal Government for                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                    businesses owners currently on probation or parole.     damage or loss to government property                 Simona Duffin, Office of
                                                    13 CFR 120.707(a). The SBA’s Microloan Program
                                                    is focused on new businesses and other
                                                                                                            resulting from such an activity.                      Entrepreneurial Development, U.S.
                                                    underserved markets and provides loans up to            Competition winners shall be prepared                 Small Business Administration, 409
                                                    $50,000.                                                to demonstrate proof of insurance or                  Third Street SW., 6th Floor,


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:41 Dec 28, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00202   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\29DEN1.SGM   29DEN1


                                                    96158                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices

                                                    Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205–4401,                   regarding these local competitions as it                 c. The name of the organization’s
                                                    womenbusiness@sba.gov.                                  becomes available, please visit                       designated Point of Contact (POC) for
                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              www.sba.gov/InnovateHER. SBA will                     the competition, his/her email address,
                                                       1. Subject of Challenge Competition:                 continue to update the list of local                  and phone number.
                                                    The SBA is looking for innovative                       competitions as details are confirmed.                   SBA will evaluate all requests to host
                                                    products and services that help impact                  While these local competitions will be                a local InnovateHER competition in its
                                                    and empower the lives of women and                      identified as part of the national                    sole discretion and will confirm a host’s
                                                    families. We know that our workforce                    InnovateHER Challenge and will be                     participation in writing. Additionally,
                                                    looks very different from 50 years ago.                 conducted in a manner that is consistent              with some exceptions, organizations
                                                    Women now make up nearly half of the                    with these Challenge rules, they will be              that wish to host an InnovateHER
                                                    labor force and play a critical role in our             administered solely by the local host                 competition will be required to agree to
                                                    nation’s economic prosperity. Most                      organizations and will be judged by                   the terms of a Co-sponsorship
                                                    children live in households where all                   individuals selected by each host in                  Agreement with the SBA that defines
                                                    parents work. And as our population                     their sole discretion. At a minimum,                  the scope of the relationship for the
                                                    ages, families are increasingly caring for              however, each application must contain                purposes of InnovateHER and outlines
                                                    aging parents while balancing the needs                 a business plan covering the                          the co-promotion and marketing terms.
                                                    of work and home. As the demands on                     contestant’s proposed product or service              SBA will notify prospective hosts if
                                                    women and families grow, the need for                   and must satisfy the Challenge criteria               such agreement is required. SBA will
                                                    products and services that address these                identified by SBA in this notice.                     reject any nomination package
                                                    unique challenges increases. This                          Following the completion of the local              submitted to the SBA by an organization
                                                    Challenge will provide a platform to                    competitions, each host organization                  that has not been officially confirmed by
                                                    fulfill that need.                                      will identify one winner that will                    SBA to participate in the InnovateHER
                                                       Contestants must develop a product                   advance to the semi-final round of the                Challenge. Additionally, each host
                                                    or service that meets the following                     Challenge. For a winning entry that has               organization will determine the type of
                                                    competition criteria:                                   been submitted by a team of                           local competition, conducted in a
                                                       • Has a measurable impact on the                     competitors, the host organization must               manner that is consistent with these
                                                    lives of women and families (30%);                      list the team’s self-identified project               Challenge Rules, that will best identify
                                                       • Has the potential for                              leader as the winner who will advance                 the most innovative and entrepreneurial
                                                    commercialization (40%); and                            to the semi-final round. No later than                business ideas, including the type of
                                                       • Fills a need in the marketplace                    May 12, 2017, each host organization                  application that individuals need to
                                                    (30%).                                                  will submit a nomination package                      prepare in order to compete, and will
                                                       2. Eligibility Rules for Participating in            containing the winning individual/                    publicize the competition locally. Host
                                                    the Challenge: This Challenge is open                   team’s business plan and other required               organizations should also notify SBA of
                                                    only to: (a) Citizens or permanent                      information to SBA, which will                        the date and location of the local
                                                    residents of the United States who are                  administer the semi-final and final                   competitions for the purposes of
                                                    at least eighteen (18) years of age at the              rounds of the Challenge. Selection as a               publication at sba.gov/InnovateHER.
                                                    time of their submission of an entry (or                semi-finalist following a local                          Semi-Final Round—Submission of
                                                    teams of such individuals); and (b)                     competition is the only means of                      Local Winners. No later than May 12,
                                                    private entities, such as corporations or               registering for the Challenge. All                    2017, host organizations must select and
                                                    other organizations, that are                           nominations will be screened by SBA                   submit one winner from the local
                                                    incorporated in and maintain a primary                  for eligibility. Contestants cannot                   competition along with a nomination
                                                    place of business in the United States.                 submit entries directly to SBA.                       package to SBA through the
                                                    Individuals submitting on behalf of                        4. Prize for Winners: Cash prizes                  www.Challenge.gov Web site. The
                                                    corporations, nonprofits, or groups of                  totaling $70,000 will be awarded to the               nomination package must contain all of
                                                    individuals (such as an academic class                  three highest-rated contestants in the                the following items:
                                                    or other team) must meet the eligibility                final round of the competition in the                    (a) A single cover page detailing—
                                                    requirements for individual contestants.                following amounts:                                       (i) The Name of the winning
                                                    An individual may belong to more than                   1st Place—$40,000                                     individual (in the case of a winning
                                                    one team submitting an entry in this                    2nd Place—$20,000                                     team, please provide the name of the
                                                    Challenge. SBA employees are not                        3rd Place—$10,000                                     team’s self-identified project lead);
                                                    eligible, nor are Federal entities or other                For winning entries submitted by                   Company name (if applicable); Product/
                                                    Federal employees acting within the                     teams of competitors, prize money will                Service Name; Company Address, City,
                                                    scope of their employment. Individuals                  be awarded to the self-identified project             State, and Place of Incorporation (if
                                                    or organizations that are currently                     leader for distribution to the rest of the            applicable); Product/Service Web site (if
                                                    suspended or disbarred by the federal                   team at their discretion and                          applicable); telephone number of
                                                    government are not eligible for this                    independently from SBA.                               winning individual; and his/her email
                                                    Challenge.                                                 5. Process for Host Organizations:                 address.
                                                       3. Registration Process for                             Initial Round—Local Competitions.                     (ii) The host organization’s official
                                                    Participants: The Challenge launches on                 Organizations that wish to host a local               legal name, street address, city, state,
                                                    December 29, 2016. The initial round of                 competition as part of the initial round              designated POC, and his/her best
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    the Challenge will take the form of local               of this Challenge must send a request to              contact number and email address.
                                                    competitions that will be run across the                the SBA at womenbusiness@sba.gov no                   (NOTE: This information must match the
                                                    country from December 29, 2016, and                     later than March 10, 2017, with the                   information provided by the
                                                    ending no later than April 29, 2017, by                 following information:                                organization as part of its request to
                                                    host organizations such as universities,                   a. The organization’s official legal               SBA to host a local competition.);
                                                    accelerators, clusters, scale-up                        name, street address, city, state;                       (iii) A concise, two-sentence
                                                    communities, and SBA Resource                              b. Web site of the organization (if                description of the product or service.
                                                    Partners. For more information                          applicable);                                          (NOTE: This description may also be in


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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices                                                96159

                                                    promotional or informational materials                  Challenge Rules and the related                       direct, indirect, or consequential, arising
                                                    in connection with InnovateHER.)                        administrative decisions described in                 from their participation in this
                                                       (b) A Business Plan from the winning                 this notice, which are final and binding              Challenge, whether the injury, death,
                                                    individual/team (maximum length: 20                     in all matters related to the Challenge.              damage, or loss arises through
                                                    pages, including attachments).                          A contestant’s eligibility for a prize                negligence or otherwise. By registering
                                                       (c) A signed Statement of Support                    award is contingent upon their fulfilling             and entering a submission, each
                                                    prepared by the host organization that                  all requirements identified in this                   contestant further represents and
                                                    explains why the winner of the local                    notice. Publication of this notice is not             warrants that it possesses sufficient
                                                    competition best satisfied the                          an obligation of funds on the part of                 liability insurance or financial resources
                                                    competition criteria and presented the                  SBA. All prize monies are funded                      to cover claims by a third party for
                                                    greatest potential for success (maximum                 through private sector sources. SBA,                  death, bodily injury, or property damage
                                                    length: 2 pages). Each host organization                however, will coordinate with the                     or loss resulting from any activity it
                                                    is responsible for preparing the                        private sector source regarding                       carries out in connection with its
                                                    complete nomination package,                            instructions for award of the prize                   participation in this Challenge, or
                                                    including obtaining a copy of the                       purse. SBA reserves the right to modify               claims by the Federal Government for
                                                    relevant Business Plan from the winner                  or cancel this Challenge, in whole or in              damage or loss to Government property
                                                    and ensuring that the full package is                   part, at any time prior to the award of               resulting from such an activity. Contest
                                                    timely submitted to the SBA via the                     prizes.                                               winners should be prepared to
                                                    www.Challenge.gov Web site.                                8. Conflicts of Interest: No individual            demonstrate proof of insurance or
                                                       6. Selection of Winners.                             acting as a judge at any stage of this                financial responsibility in the event
                                                       Semi-Final Round. In the semi-final                  Challenge may have personal or                        SBA deems it necessary.
                                                    round of the Challenge, SBA will review                 financial interests in, or be an employee,               12. Record Retention and Disclosure:
                                                    the semi-finalist nomination packages                   officer, director, or agent of any                    All nomination packages and related
                                                    submitted by the local competition host                 contestant or have a familial or financial            materials provided to SBA in the semi-
                                                    organizations and select up to 10                       relationship with a contestant.                       final and final rounds of the Challenge
                                                    finalists whose products or services, in                   9. Intellectual Property Rights: All               automatically become SBA records and
                                                    SBA’s sole judgment, best satisfy the                   entries submitted in response to this                 cannot be returned. Contestants should
                                                    competition criteria identified in                      Challenge will remain the sole                        identify any confidential commercial
                                                    Paragraph 1 of this Challenge                           intellectual property of the individuals              information contained in their entries at
                                                    announcement and present the greatest                   or organizations that developed them.                 the time of their submission to the local
                                                    potential for success. In addition, in                  By registering and entering a                         Host Organization. SBA will notify
                                                    order to achieve nationwide distribution                submission, each contestant represents                contestants of any Freedom of
                                                    of prizes for the purpose of stimulating                and warrants that it is the sole author               Information Act requests the Agency
                                                    the growth and development of new                       and copyright owner of the submission,                receives related to their submissions in
                                                    products and services across the entire                 and that the submission is an original                accordance with 13 CFR part 102.
                                                    United States and across a diverse range                work of the contestant, or if the                        Award Approving Official: Bruce
                                                    of project types, SBA may take into                     submission is a work based on an                      Purdy, (Acting) Assistant Administrator,
                                                    account nominees’ geographic locations                  existing application, that the contestant             Office of Women’s Business Ownership,
                                                    when selecting winners, including                       has acquired sufficient rights to use and             U.S. Small Business Administration,
                                                    support to geographic regions that                      to authorize others to use the                        409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC
                                                    traditionally have limited access to                    submission, and that the submission                   20416.
                                                    capital, as well as diversity in the types              does not infringe upon any copyright or
                                                    of products and services. Finalists                     upon any other third party rights of                    Authority: America Competes
                                                    selected by SBA will be required to sign                                                                      Reauthorization Act of 2010, 15 U.S.C. 3719.
                                                                                                            which the contestant is aware.
                                                    a form certifying that they meet the                       10. Publicity Rights: By registering                 Dated: December 22, 2016.
                                                    eligibility requirements identified in                  and entering a submission, each                       Bruce Purdy,
                                                    Paragraph 2 above and have complied                     contestant consents to SBA’s and its                  (Acting) Assistant Administrator, Office of
                                                    with these Challenge Rules.                             agents’ use, in perpetuity, of its name,              Women’s Business Ownership.
                                                       Final Round. Each finalist will be                   likeness, photograph, voice, opinions,                [FR Doc. 2016–31470 Filed 12–28–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    offered the opportunity to participate in               and/or hometown and state information                 BILLING CODE 8025–01–P
                                                    the InnovateHER Final Challenge to be                   for promotional or informational
                                                    held on July 27, 2017 where they will                   purposes through any form of media,
                                                    make a live marketing pitch to a panel                  worldwide, without further payment or                 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
                                                    of expert judges drawn from the private                 consideration. In addition, SBA may
                                                    sector. The panel of judges will select                 share the contact information of a                    [License No. 03/03–0264]
                                                    the three finalists whose pitches, in                   contestant with its offices and agents in             Boathouse Capital II, L.P.; Notice
                                                    their sole judgment, best satisfy the                   cases where it believes a contestant may              Seeking Exemption Under Section 312
                                                    competition criteria and present the                    benefit from, or be positioned to assist              of the Small Business Investment Act,
                                                    greatest potential for success and rank                 with, an activity or program sponsored                Conflicts of Interest
                                                    them in descending order. Finalists will                or co-sponsored by SBA.
                                                    be responsible for covering their own                      11. Liability and Insurance                          Notice is hereby given that Boathouse
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    travel costs for the national competition.              Requirements: By registering and                      Capital II, L.P., 200 West Lancaster
                                                       7. Applicable Law: This Challenge is                 entering a submission, each contestant                Avenue, Suite 206, Wayne, PA 19087,
                                                    being conducted by SBA pursuant to the                  agrees to assume any and all risks and                Federal Licensees under the Small
                                                    America Competes Act (15 U.S.C. 3719)                   waive claims against the Federal                      Business Investment Act of 1958, as
                                                    and is subject to all applicable federal                Government and its related entities,                  amended (‘‘the Act’’), in connection
                                                    laws and regulations. By participating in               except in the case of willful misconduct,             with the financing of a small concern,
                                                    this Challenge, each contestant gives its               for any injury, death, damage, or loss of             has sought an exemption under Section
                                                    full and unconditional agreement to the                 property, revenue, or profits, whether                312 of the Act and Section 107.730,


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Document Created: 2016-12-29 01:58:55
Document Modified: 2016-12-29 01:58:55
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesThe Challenge launches on December 29, 2016. The initial round of the Challenge will take the form of local competitions that will be run across the country beginning December 29, 2016, and ending no later than April 29, 2017. The host organizations running the local competitions must select and submit one winner from each local competition to SBA, along with a nomination package, no later than May 12, 2017. SBA will then select up to ten finalists. The top three winners will be announced no later than July 27, 2017, following a live pitch competition.
ContactSimona Duffin, Office of Entrepreneurial Development, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205-4401, [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 96157 

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