Submitted by David from Miami

Q: I am a professor at Miami Dade College and my class is creating a business. Can they enter the Business Plan Challenge?

Answered 02/10/12 08:31:04 by Nancy Dahlberg

A: Yes, absolutely! We encourage class projects and we have had class projects win in the past. And I would love to see more entries from Miami Dade College this year -- I know how entrepreneurial MDC students are! Please let me know if you have any more questions -- and good luck! Nancy

Submitted by Keena from Orlando

Q: I am an FIU student currently living in Orlando. Am I eligible to compete in the Challenge?

Answered 02/09/12 22:58:42 by Nancy Dahlberg

A: Congratulations! You submitted our first question of 2012! Yes, FIU students can compete in the FU Track of the Challenge, regardless of where they currently live. Find more information at miamiherald.com/challenge and best of luck to you! Nancy

Submitted by barry nelson from north miami beach, fla

Q: Buddy Bike, a business I founded, came in third in the Business Challenge, a number of years ago and while we are selling bikes all over the world and getting great feedback (see customer comments at www.buddybike.com), we contunue to have problems reaching out to bike shops and rental shops to carry our product. I had read that as part of the Business challenge you can submit a summary to the judges for a business review. What is the process? I misplaced the article discussing the procedures. thanks barry nelson

Answered 05/09/11 07:37:51 by Nancy Dahlberg

A: Hi Mr. Nelson, I remember Buddy Bike! Great to hear from you and I am glad you are still selling Buddy Bike. Not from the judges, but I had asked for an update from past winners because we like to report on how they are doing during the Challenge season. You can send that anytime to ndahlberg@MiamiHerald.com. I won't be doing another update immediately but it would be great to have it. There are lots of organzations in town that can help with marketing and building awareness, like SCORE. You might want to try those. Nancy Dahlberg

Submitted by Dwight Owen Schweitz from Miami Fl 33145

Q: Nancy, I meant to ask you (if I didn't) to keep the comments of the Judges on my Business Plan Challenge submission. If for any reason it is too late mia-culpa. lol Thanks, Dwight

Answered 04/15/11 14:23:56 by Nancy Dahlberg

A: Hi Dwight, I will be happy to share any comments and feedback from the judges after the contest has concluded May 16. Just shoot me an email at that time. Nancy (ndahlberg@MiamiHerald.com)

Submitted by Alex from Fort Lauderdale

Q: How and when will the winners and finalists be notified? Alex

Answered 03/23/11 13:26:37 by Nancy Dahlberg

A: Finalists will be announced in the Business Monday section and on MiamiHerald.com on April 18. Semifinalists will be announced May 2 and will be part of the video competition, where the community at large will vote for their favorites for the separate People's Pick award. Winners will be announced May 16 in a special section that will feature the winners' profiles and photos as well as lists of the finalists in all three tracks. Good luck!

Submitted by Francisco from Miami, FL.

Q: Nancy...good morning. I am an FIU alumni. Is there any major difference whether I submit my plan through the community track vs. the FIU track? And in your opinion which track should I submit it to? Thanks. Francisco

Answered 03/23/11 10:44:32 by Nancy Dahlberg

A: Hello Francisco, I am glad you are entering. There are really no major differences in the two tracks. Judges will name three top winners in each track and each of the two tracks will have a People's Pick video contest. The judges' panels are different (you can see the judges' bios on MiamiHerald.com/Challenge) but all the judges are excellent. There are more judges for the community track because there are usually many more entries, which points out an advantage of the FIU Track.... As far as which to enter, last year, there were about three times more entries in the community track than the FIU track, and with two days to go, that may be the case this year too. So since you are an FIU alum, I'd take advantage of that and enter the FIU track. But of course, the choice is yours! Nancy Dahlberg

Submitted by Jorge from Miami

Q: What are the rules for the FIU contest? can just one person on the team be an FIU student? And can we enter both the community and Fiu contests? Jorge

Answered 03/21/11 20:57:55 by Nancy Dahlberg

A: Hi Jorge, To qualify for the FIU track, only one person on a team needs to be either a current student or an alumni of FIU. And a team can't enter both the FIU track and the community track, they need to pick one or the other. Last year there were fewer entries in the FIU track. Good luck on your entry! Find the rules at MiamiHerald.com/challenge Nancy Dahlberg

Submitted by Tonya from Miami

Q: I am a high school teacher and my students want to enter the contest. Can two students submit a plan together or does it need to come from one student?

Answered 03/10/11 19:42:37 by Nancy Dahlberg

A: Yes, indeed. A team of two or even more people may submit a plan. For instance, last year the winner in the FIU track came from a four-student team. Good luck to your high school students! Nancy

Submitted by Jose M from Miami

Q: May I include links in my plan?

Answered 03/08/11 20:40:28 by Nancy Dahlberg

A: It's ok to include them, but your plan will be judged on the three pages submitted. Much of the preliminary judging is done with paper copies. So I wouldn't put anything crucial to your plan in the links.

Submitted by Loretta from Hollywood

Q: I incorporated my business in February of 2009. Is it eligible? Loretta

Answered 03/01/11 11:29:13 by Nancy Dahlberg

A: Probably, Loretta. Businesses started on or after Feb. 7, 2009 are eligible. We define the date you started your business as the date you began selling your product or service, i.e. opened your store, started selling on your website, etc. Good luck to you. Nancy