Creative Oklahoma, along with the National Creativity Network, announced today that the Creative Business Cup is now open for entrepreneurs in the United States to apply. The Creative Business Cup is a national and international competition for new and established entrepreneurs from creative industries around the world. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 24th, 2012.

Entrepreneurs are asked to submit a business plan in order to compete to become the winning entry for the United States. The winner will compete against other countries at the final during Global Entrepreneurship Week in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 12th-14th.

Creative Oklahoma was selected as the National Host Organization for the United States competition and will send one person with the winning submission to Copenhagen to represent. “We are thrilled to be the official host of the Creative Business Cup and to provide entrepreneurs in the United States the opportunity to compete globally,” said Susan McCalmont, President of Creative Oklahoma.

Any citizen of the United States with a business idea can participate in the competition. Individuals or groups may apply, but at least one person must have a background in one of the creative industries. The submitted business plan cannot exceed 15 pages, and the amount of external capital invested in the participating company must not exceed $500.00. To read more about the rules and restrictions, please visit http://www.creativebusinesscup.com/rules.

“The United States is an important part of Creative Business Cup. You represent some of strongest companies in the creative industries and a have strong culture for entrepreneurship. The aim of Creative Business Cup is to promote entrepreneurship in the Creative Industries and to show that by combining creativity and business skills you can create a successful company,” said Andreas Kromphardt Carlsen, project manager of for the Creative Business Cup. “We believe that the Creative Industries represents a potential for growth in both developed and non-developed countries. CKO is happy to have Creative Oklahoma as a partner for hosting Creative Business Cup and for further promoting creative entrepreneurship in the United States.”

The winning entry will also be recognized during the newly named State of Creativity Forum on Tuesday, November 13 at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City. The forum will feature keynote speakers Sir Ken Robinson, Peter Diamandis, and many more. For more information and to register for the forum, please visit www.stateofcreativity.com.

For more information on the Creative Business Cup in the United States, and to apply for the competition, please visit www.stateofcreativity.com.

For entrepreneurs interested in applying, please download the Business Plan Template at http://www.creativebusinesscup.com/.

Formed in 2006, Creative Oklahoma is a statewide non-profit organization advancing Oklahoma’s creative economy through innovative based initiatives in education, commerce and culture. The mission is to transform the state of Oklahoma through projects and collaborative ventures that help develop an improved life quality for its citizens and a more entrepreneurial and vibrant economy. For more please visit www.stateofcreativity.com.