HPG Sponsors Duke Start-Up Challenge
Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP, announces today that it is sponsoring the Duke Start-Up Challenge. The challenge is a student-led entrepreneurship competition currently in its 10th year.

RALEIGH, NC, April 08, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (www.hpg.com), the largest CPA firm headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, announces today sponsorship of the Duke Start-Up Challenge, a student-led entrepreneurship competition (www.dukestartupchallenge.org).

Now in its tenth year, the Duke Start-Up Challenge spans the entire academic year. Teams progress in the competition gaining valuable professional feedback from a panel of judges with extensive entrepreneurial experience. Cash and in-kind prizes are awarded during each phase of the competition, with the winning team receiving a grand prize of $25,000 and office space at the DUhatch Student Business Incubator.

The first challenges teams face are the elevator pitch and executive summary competitions. Semi-finalists are then selected to submit a business plan and make an investor pitch presentation. Seven finalists are then chosen to give a second investor pitch at the Investor Pitch Finals. At the Grand Finale, the winner, based on the results of the Investor Pitch Finals, is revealed, and both the finalists and runners-up take part in an elevator pitch competition.

"This is a great way to provide practical experience to the next generation of entrepreneurs," says Brooks Malone, HPG partner. "We are proud to sponsor the competition and look forward to the Grand Finale competition."

In addition to sponsoring the Start-Up Challenge, HPG supports the Duke Entrepreneurship Education Series and the DUhatch Student Business Incubator. Partner Brooks Malone is a "Coach on Call" for the DUhatch program, meeting one on one with prospective entrepreneurs or early-stage companies to discuss questions they may have and offer financial advice.

HPG has a long history of supporting the entrepreneurial community. Additional 2010 initiatives the firm supports include the CED's: Biotech Conference, Companies to Watch, Venture 2010, the CAFÉ program, STREAK series, Biotech Forum, the Board Lunch Series and the Leadership Series.

About Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (HPG):
HPG is the largest CPA firm headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, as ranked by the Triangle Business Journal. Furthermore, Business Leader magazine ranked HPG as the fifth most successful small business in North Carolina in 2008. HPG is able to provide national and global accounting resources to its clients through the CPAmerica firm network of 701 offices worldwide. HPG offers a wide array of business accounting, auditing, corporate tax, and management advisory services. Specialties include serving owner-managed, investor-backed technology and life science, healthcare services, real estate development, manufacturing and distribution businesses and providing, ERISA audits, family wealthcare services and Sarbanes-Oxley internal audit services. More than just an accounting firm, HPG assists clients in looking beyond the bottom linesm by being the right firm, right value and right people to achieve each client's definition of success. Visit www.hpg.com.

About the 10th Annual Duke Start-Up Challenge:
The Duke Start-Up Challenge entrepreneurship competition runs throughout the academic year, from November to April. The competition includes an Elevator Pitch Competition in November, an Executive Summary Competition in January, and a live Finals Event in April, with multiple teams winning cash and prizes throughout the competition for the best submissions. The prizes are awarded to overall best plan/presentation and best submission in each of several categories (e.g. Energy & Environment, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Products & Services, and Social Entrepreneurship). Additionally, teams are provided with feedback from knowledgeable judges along the way to help with further development of the business concept into the next part of the Duke Start-Up Challenge and beyond. Founded in 1999 by an ambitious group of Duke students, the competition is now celebrating its 10th year of operation. More information can be found at www.dukestartupchallenge.org.

Press Release Contact Information:

Mike Gauss
Articulon
Senior Account Manager
2841 Plaza Place ste. 105
Raleigh, NC
United States 27612
Voice: 919.232.5008
Website: Visit Our Website