New Market Partners CEO Joy Randels Gets Coveted Tech Juror Spot At One Spark

"The Worlds Crowdfunding Festival" Selects Serial Entrepreneur and Industry Leader as Technology Juror for Upcoming 2014 Event. End Quote

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (1888PressRelease) March 18, 2014 - New Market Partners CEO will have more influence than most at the second annual One Spark festival, the five-day event in downtown Jacksonville drew over 130,000 people last year and 900 participants known as creators across 59 venues. Creators compete in art, innovation, music, science, and technology categories showcasing their best ideas for a chance to win more than $300,000 in prizes and up to $3.25 million in capital investments and individual contributions from the crowd.

After a rigorous selection process, Ms. Randels was named one of three jurors in the Technology category for the April 9-13 festival. "One Spark is such an amazing event and celebration of entrepreneurship" Randels said. "Connecting great ideas to investment dollars is a critical component of the event and I am truly honored to be selected as a One Spark technology juror."

One Spark believes that the next big thing can emerge from dorm rooms, garages and small studios. The festival is an interactive experience that allows attendees to support Creators that inspire them through voting and individual contributions. "Jurors must have a technical background and the ability to engage the public. I'm excited to be able to use those skills and to have the opportunity to help showcase Florida as a leader in the startup world" said Randels.

This year the opportunity is bigger and better for the creators as the event has joined forces with Arsenal Venture Partners, Palm Ventures, Florida Blue, Healthbox, PS27 Ventures, UE Investors and STACHE Investments Corp. to elevate the level of funding opportunities on the table for One Spark 2014 creators. Randels went on to say, "I welcome the idea of using expert jurors who know how to communicate to blend the crowdfunding approach with the checks and balances of peer review. This is going to be exciting."

According to the One Spark web site, jurors will select a winner of a $10,000 award in their category (Art, Music, Innovation, Science and Technology). The judges will "be on the ground, checking out each Creator Project in their respective categories to narrow their list down to three finalists, who will be announced at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Hemming Plaza. On Sunday, those finalists will pitch to their jury in front of a live audience "Shark Tank" style in Hemming Plaza, and winners will be announced at the Closing Ceremony."

About One Spark:
One Spark, The World's Crowdfunding Festival, is committed to fostering environments of creativity and innovation by showcasing artists, entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world for five days every spring in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Creators are provided a platform to connect their ideas with resources to make it happen. The festival is an interactive experience that allows attendees to support ideas and projects that inspire them and decide on the next big thing. One Spark 2014 will be held April 9 -13, 2014. One Spark 2014 has also been selected for A&E's PROJECT STARTUP.

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