BIG News

$25K Grand Prize Up for Grabs in Midwest Export Competition

If your small business wants to move into international markets, you might be eligible to win $25,000 in free business services in the new Midwest X-Port Challenge.

The competition is hosted by UPS, Dentons and World Trade Center Kansas City. It’s open to companies from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas and parts of Illinois.

Entrants must submit an application via this website by July 6. Applicants need both a business website and a physical product that’s in development. Only one application per company is allowed. Applicants also must agree to be contacted by an international expert affiliated with UPS and the other sponsors.

Ten finalists will be invited to pitch their idea to a panel of judges during an event in downtown Kansas City on Aug. 24. (The exact contest time and location will be announced later.) Applicants must attend the Aug. 24 event in order to win.

The grand prize includes $10,000 in free international shipping from UPS, $10,000 in free legal services from Dentons and $5,000 in research services from World Trade Center Kansas City.

Second place will win $2,500 in export shipping, $2,500 in legal services and $3,000 in research. Third place is $1,000 in shipping, $1,000 in legal services and $2,000 in research.