Patterned after the highly successful Development Marketplace started by the World Bank and implemented in
over 20 countries, Alaska Marketplace is an exciting new initiative aimed at harnessing brilliant, innovative
ideas for stimulating economic development in the bush by tapping into the deep cultural knowledge and skills
of rural Alaska’s residents. Like the Development Marketplace, Alaska Marketplace will be a magnet for
cutting-edge solutions to some of the most pressing social and economic concerns facing rural Alaska.
Practically speaking, Alaska Marketplace brings visionaries, financiers, technical experts
and entrepreneurs together in an innovation competition where innovators “sell” their ideas to
a jury comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors. The innovators pitch their
ideas to a Grand Jury for a chance to be awarded thousands of dolars in seed money. Awards are intended to
foster innovation and are made to the competition’s
top business proposals on the basis of viability, sustainability, replicability and cost-effectiveness. While
we are adopting a World Bank model, this program is uniquely Alaskan and thus completely independent
of The World Bank Group.
Visit www.AlaskaMarketplace.org for more information about this year's competition!
Culture and Development was the theme for the first Alaska Marketplace. This broad theme was meant to encompass the myriad different ways that Alaskans express culture. Specific expressions of culture that were incorporated into the Alaska Marketplace business proposals included the following themes:
- Performing Arts – including dance, music and story-telling.
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Winners competed for a portion of $500,000 in seed money and business support. (Photo © Judy Patrick) |
- Crafts – including contemporary and traditional carving, weaving, beading, sewing
painting and sculpture.
- Tourism & Heritage Preservation – such as cultural tours, which generate income
for village economies.
The Alaska Federation of Natives was the first year administrator of the Alaska Marketplace, with advisory,
in-kind and financial support from the Denali Commission, BP,
Telecommunications Development Fund, Alaska Growth Capital, and ConocoPhillips. Other partners include
the Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership, College of Rural Alaska, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and Alaska
Village Initiatives.
2006 Alaska Marketplace Results
Click Here for a list of 2006 Alaska Marketplace Winners.
Check Out an Official Press Release about
the Winners and the Final Event in Anchorage.
Read KTUU's Coverage
of the Alaska Marketplace Final Event.
Find out more about the competition by visiting the Alaska Marketplace website at www.alaskamarketplace.org, emailing or by calling 907-274-3611.
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Ken Donajkowski, the Vice President of the Health, Safety Environment for ConocoPhillips
Alaska, presents a check for $100,000 to Julie Kitka, the President of AFN. ConocoPhillips also donated the
venue, signage and event coordination for the final Alaska Marketplace Competition in April. (Photo © Judy Patrick)
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20 Honorable Mentions were each awarded $1,000 to put toward their innovative ideas. (Photo © Judy Patrick) |
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22 Alaska Marketplace winners walked away with awards ranging from $8K to $50K to put toward their winning business plans. (Photo © Judy Patrick) |
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This year’s Alaska Marketplace theme, Culture & Development, encouraged
participants to draw on their rich culture and heritage to create winning proposals. (Photo © Judy Patrick)
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