Venture Island kicks-off with an initial round of screen tests. The competition is judged by a panel of subject-area experts, the audience, and also by peer competitors, and the field of entrepreneurs is eventually narrowed down and culminates in the Finalist Showdown competition.

The monthly challenges serve as a celebration of entrepreneurship, and a "can't miss" networking event for entrepreneurs, CEOs, technologists, executives, investors, and others seeking to build the next wave of market-leading companies in the North State!

All contestants are featured on the Venture Island page of the Venture Communities "VC Online" web portal. Contestants may upload their 2-minute "screen tests" video (taped as part of the selection process), business plan executive summary and other pertinent information about their venture that they wish to have available for viewing by potential investors, customers, executives, the media, and the public-at-large.

Venture Island will raise visibility about key issues local entrepreneurs face in starting and growing their businesses (talent acquisition and retention, access to capital, regulatory issues, facilities, local exposure, etc.) and put our region on the map as a community known for its support of entrepreneurs.