What is the government s Elevator competition all about

Asks sugar

A. It is a new competition pioneered by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to champion e-business development in the UK.

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Q. What has it got to do with elevators

A. In reality nothing, but in principle it is based on the US concept of an "elevator statement" whereby you put across the core of your new idea to a venture capitalist while travelling between a couple of floors in an elevator - and the theory is that your idea will be so ground breaking that they'll snap your hand off to get it to market.

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The DTI's competition invites would-be entrepreneurs to pitch its elevator statement to them, in a written statement no more than 250 words long, and if it is good enough it will get them through to a regional heat, the heats will be held around the country throughout 2002. Once you're through to a heat, you will be given 10 minutes to pitch your idea (the approximate amount of time you would have in an elevator with a venture capitalist) the best idea of each heat will make it through to the final which will be held in June 2002 at Internet World UK.

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The competition is being promoted on the Beyond Bricks website. To enter the competition you can either visit the Beyond Bricks website or email your idea in 250 words or less to [email protected], the best ideas will make it through to a regional heat, you have to state which heat you'd like to enter with your idea.

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Q. Where are the heats being held

A. Two heats were held at the end of 2001 in Manchester and Leeds, the remaining ones will be held in Glasgow (12 February), Bristol (in March), London (April and May), and the final will be held in June.

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Q. What is Beyond Bricks

A. Beyond Bricks is part of the DTI's �5.5m Internet Mentoring Initiative set up to encourage the growth of e-business - the initiative also includes match-funded grants to regional incubators and a research programme.

Beyond Bricks is an Internet portal for Internet entrepreneurs that provides a free online resource of information and advice, and although government-funded via the DTI it was created by a consortium of companies with proven success in the Internet field. Its mandate is to "encourage the growth and success of e-business across the UK."

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Q. What information does the Beyond Bricks portal provide

A. The website is very informative - you have to become a member to obtain the information on the site, membership is free - and split into several sections that include:

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(a) News: includes information on Internet industry investments, mergers and markets, supported by general news provided by Moreover.

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(b) Features: interviews and articles covering all the issues facing Internet entrepreneurs.

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(c) Guidance: library of information on how to get started, grow and operate your own Internet business - and the problems you will face and how to tackle them.

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(d) Tools: online tools that help with business planning, forecasting, presentations etc.

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(e) Community: access to a network of professionals - advisors, investors etc. that enable you to make contacts and find office space, business partners etc. to help you with your Internet venture, and more importantly to ensure that nobody else has thought of your idea before and making it work already.

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Q. Are there any other government-backed websites that support new Internet business

A. There are two that you could try if you are planning a new online venture, these are UK Online for Business - which is the government's site set up to ensure that the UK stays in the forefront of the "wired" society; and Business Link which offers a support and guidance service for all small business (online and offline) in the UK, it also has some advice centres throughout the country where you can drop in for more one-on-one information.

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If you have any Internet and Technology related questions, please click here

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By Karen Anderson