Entrepreneurs with business plans to make the world a better place will have 90 seconds to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in the next-to-final round of the annual YouthBridge SEIC (Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Competition) in May Auditorium, Simon Hall, on the Danforth Campus.

Sixteen teams are in the semifinalist round that requires a spokesperson to deliver a 90-second “elevator pitch” describing his or her business and why it deserves funding. The community is invited to attend this fast-paced event and participate in the judging.

The audience member whose scores come closest to the official judges’ tally will win $250.

Finalists in the YouthBridge SEIC competition will be announced Thursday, Jan. 28 at the conclusion of the event. Finalists will present their business plans to the judges in April and $150,000 in grants will be awarded to the winners at a ceremony April 15.

Initiated in 2005 as the Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Competition by the Skandalaris Center, a name change was announced last fall to reflect the ongoing commitment of the YouthBridge Community Foundation to the program. The foundation, which has been a Washington University partner in the SEIC since its inception, renewed its support with an initial three-year commitment of funding and training for nonprofit, community-based ventures, totaling nearly half a million dollars.

The YouthBridge SEIC competition is unique in St. Louis and, in terms of monetary awards, is the largest competition of its kind in the United States. Additional sponsors include the Incarnate Word Foundation, the Lutheran Foundation of St Louis, and the Daughters of Charity Foundation of St Louis.

The semifinalists in the 2010 YouthBridge SEIC competition are listed below. More information and links to their Web sites can be found at ideabounce.com.

Active Minds Charter School
City Greens Produce
The Dahlia Partnership
Dancing Classrooms St. Louis
Give Change
One Percent Foundation
Preclarus Mastery Academy
Strive for College Collaborative
Circus Teaches the Art of Life
Crafts by Youth
Day Program for Adults with Autism
Go Network
Our Lady's Inn
Sista Circle Self-Esteem Support Group for Girls
Ten Years to Home Ownership
Viva Vox Academy