For 13 years, MillerCoors invested more than $1.9 million in the businesses and dreams of entrepreneurs through its MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series business competition, also known as MUES. Now, Miller Lite has launched a new programme to continue the company’s commitment to social investment. ‘Tap the Future’ picks up the torch with a bold new program, giving groups of business partners the chance improve their business acumen and elevate their businesses.
This is the first time that an entrepreneurship project of this nature has been directly linked to one of our product brands – and it makes a lot of sense. Miller Lite is at the heart of Miller Time, when groups of good friends get together over a great tasting beer. Now Miller Lite is turning those great friends into great business partners.
Groups of friends over the legal drinking age of 21 years old will compete for a prize pool of $400K in business grants and the chance to receive advice from the sharpest business minds in America. Daymond John from ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ will lead the judging panel of successful business owners. He is an entrepreneur from Queens, New York who built successful businesses at an early age. He pioneered his own hip hop-inspired clothing line, FUBU (For Us By Us) and established himself as a highly regarded marketing expert, author and public speaker.
Sitting alongside “The Shark” will be other inspirational entrepreneurs who all started successful businesses with close friends. The group of inspirational judges includes Aaron Firestein and Raaja Nemani, cofounders of BucketFeet which produces shoes designed by artists from around the world; Lance Rios, founder of Hispanic communication platform Being Latino; Roberto Torres, Luis Montanez and Chris Findeisen, creators of made-in-America apparel brand Black & Denim; and Sulaiman Sanni and Ben Lamson, creators of the crowdfunding website WeDidIt.
The contest will take place over three phases, starting with an invitation to submit business information. Twenty-five semifinalists will be selected to compete in live pitch events in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and Phoenix. At each a winning entry will be selected by a panel of expert judges for a US$20,000 prize and a ticket to the National Finals and a chance at the US$250,000 business grant grand prize.
