GRAND RAPIDS ? Rick DeVos, who gave Grand Rapids the highly successful cultural event, ArtPrize, now is giving would-be entrepreneurs a venue, and possibly funding, in a new monthly business pitch contest he calls 5X5 Night. The first one is scheduled for Feb. 22.

Five presenters will have five minutes each to sum up their ideas with five slides. Five judges will then decide which idea (or ideas) will win up to $5,000.

?A culture that innovates is a culture that shares a lot of ideas. I think we can do more of that sharing in our region and 5?5 is designed to help,? DeVos said. ?It could be five business ideas getting $1000 each; or one getting $5000. Or we could decide on none.?

Any type of idea can be submitted to Click on 5x5Night.Com From art projects to new businesses to events, the evening is designed to promote idea sharing from many disciplines. A week before the event, organizers will select up to five applicants to present their ideas. The basic presentation outline requested explains:

? Who you are

? What?s your idea

? How will the idea impact

? Where can it go with a small grant

The first 5?5 will happen Tuesday, February 22 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum Cook Auditorium at 5:30PM. Admission is $5. When presentations are complete, visitors are expected to move to Reserve Wine Bar for drinks, conversation and the announcement of the evening?s winner or winners.

?To borrow what I say about ArtPrize, 5?5 Night is really about the conversation,? DeVos said. ?The first hour is a primer, the second hour is when people connect to other people and their ideas.?

5?5 is hosted by Pomegranate Studios, a business incubator chaired by DeVos. Rick DeVos and Bill Holsinger-Robinson, president of Pomegranate Studios, will be on the first panel of judges along with a few other local entrepreneurs to be announced.

Pomegranate Studios is a business incubator focusing on web-enabled business, social entrepreneurship and empowering individual voices through technology. It is the brainchild of Rick DeVos, grandson of Amway co-founder Rich DeVos. Rick DeVos also is the founder of ArtPrize, Momentum.Com, and Spout.Com.

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