Q. Who is eligible to enter the Contest?

This contest is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, aged 21 years or older.

Q. What are the Contest's start and end dates?

The Contest starts at 12:00:01 AM (ET) on 11/16/06 and all entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM (ET) on 1/31/07.

Q. How can I enter the Contest?

There are three ways to submit your small business idea, however, only one entry per person is allowed regardless of entry method. All entries must be submitted in English language.

1. E-mail Entry: You may enter by downloading the Contest Submission Form at www.ideawins.com/contest and submitting the completed Entry Form by email to iwsubmis@microsoft.com.
2. Interactive Entry: You may log onto www.ideawins.com/contest starting at midnight on November 27, 2006 to complete and submit the interactive Entry Form via the Internet.
3. Attend one (1) of the five (5) scheduled Idea Wins National Tour Events and submit a completed Idea Wins: The Ultimate Challenge Entry form available at www.ideawins.com/contest. Applications will also be available on site at the Idea Wins National Tour locations. The five (5) Idea Wins National Tour locations and tentative scheduled dates are as follows:
   • New York, NY: November 28, 2006
   • Las Vegas, NV: January, 2007
   • Denver, CO: January, 2007
   • Chicago, IL: January, 2007
   • Atlanta, GA: January, 2007
   
   The Idea Wins National Tour dates are subject to change. To obtain a confirmed listing of the Idea Wins National Tour locations and scheduled dates, please visit www.ideawins.com/contest.

Q. What type of small business idea can I submit?

The Dry Shower? Caffeinated Salad? GPS Shoes? Entries can be submitted for almost any original idea for a consumer-based based business that sells goods and services at a storefront retail location and via the Internet. However, please note that ideas that fall in the following categories will not be eligible for this Contest: Not-for-Profit, sexual aids, pornography, tobacco, alcohol, firearms or other weapons, and any unlawful activity.

Q. How will my submission be judged?

Based on your answers to eleven (11) questions about your small business idea, your submission will be judged based on the following criteria: Originality, Marketing Approach, Financial and Logistical Feasibility and Public Interest. The judging of Entries will be conducted under the supervision of Centra Marketing & Communications, LLC, an independent judging organization whose decisions are final and binding in all respects relating to the selection of all Winners.

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Q. When and how will the Finalists be notified?

All Finalists will be notified by e-mail, overnight mail and/or telephone on or about February 9, 2007.

Q. If I am selected as a Finalist what do I need to submit?

All four (4) Finalists will be will be required to submit one (1) video consisting of up to three (3) minutes of footage that contains the following: An explanation of the business plan; How the Business will work; The targeted audience for the business; a Financial projection for the first year of business; and Why the business appeals to public interest.

Q. What is online voting?

All four (4) Finalist Video Entries will be posted at www.ideawins.com/contest between approximately 12:00 AM ET on March 5, 2007 and approximately 11:59:59 PM ET on March 9, 2007. During this time, the public will be asked to vote for/select one (1) of the four (4) Finalists Video Entries, based on the best Oral Presentation displayed in the Finalist Video Entry. The results of the public voting will be one component of the total final score from which a Grand Prize and First Prize winner are selected.

Q. Can I vote as many times as I want?

No. There is a limit one (1) vote per person.

Q. What happens if there are tied Finalists?

In the event of a tie, the tied Finalists will be re-judged by an additional judge who will serve as the tie-breaker using the same criteria as outlined in judging criteria referenced above.

Q. When and how will the Grand and First Prize Winners be notified?

All Winners will be notified by e-mail, overnight mail and/or telephone on or about March 12, 2007.

Q. What are the prizes and their approximate retail value?

GRAND PRIZE:

• $100,000 start-up capital
• Rent for a one year lease (of up to $100,000) for a store front in New York City
• Development of an Office Live website e-commerce-enabled and hosting of the website for one year
• Office Accounting services and services of an accountant and IT partner for one year
• Total approximate retail value of Grand Prize: $224,000

FIRST PRIZE:

• Development of an Office Live website e-commerce-enabled through the Office Accounting software, and hosting of the website for one year
• Office Accounting services and services of an accountant and IT partner for one year
• Total approximate retail value of First Prize: $24,000

One (1) Grand Prize and one (1) First Prize will be awarded. No Substitutions. The Grand and First Prize Winners may only use the prize awarded him/her to execute their winning plan. Please see complete Official Contest Rules for more information.

Q. What if I have additional questions that are not covered in the FAQs?

Please feel free contact us with any questions, including technical questions at iwcntstq@microsoft.com.