Entries for the fourth annual Ron Brown Apprentice Program

Through the program, the Embassy invites young entrepreneurs to come up with the next Facebook, Apple iPhone, or hybrid car. The program aims to promote entrepreneurism and sound business practices and to increase self-employment among youth. The U.S. Embassy will determine the winners of the Montenegrin competition who will then go on to compete in a region-wide contest for the best business plan. Winners from each participating country will be invited to attend the Ron Brown Forum: The Future of Energy, April 14-15 in Zagreb to pitch their ideas to a panel of successful business people from the region, who will evaluate the projects and select the top three.

Attending the Brown Forum provides an opportunity to network with some of the most influential venture capitalists and entrepreneurs from Europe and the United States. Previous Ron Brown Apprentice competitors have won seed money for their projects, received internships with major companies and met career mentors. The U.S. Embassies in Montenegro and Croatia will cover the travel and accommodation costs of the two Montenegrin youth selected to participate in the final competition.

How to Apply

  • Submissions should be a one-page business abstract, in English; the second page should include the full budget for the proposed business venture. A panel of Embassy experts will select the winners for the national competition, who will be notified in early March.
  • Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m., February 28, 2014. Send your business plans to the U.S. Embassy at webmaster_podgorica@state.gov with “The Ron Brown Apprentice Program” in the Subject field of the e-mail.
  • You must be between the ages of 18 and 25 to apply. Each participant must also submit a CV and basic biographical information – name, age, school/university (if applicable), email, and phone number.
  • Business plan submissions that do not comply with the U.S. Embassy guidelines or contain prohibited, inappropriate, irrelevant, or copied content will be disqualified, removed from the selection, and not considered for a prize.

If you have questions on the contest, please address them to Mr. Bernard Cobaj at CobajB@state.gov, subject: “The Ron Brown Apprentice Program.”

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