3pointD.com

Absolutely love this idea:

In an effort to foster entrepreneurialism within Second Life, Edelman and The Electric Sheep Company are teaming up to sponsor a Second Life Business Plan competition. . . . Over the next few months, we will be accepting business plan entries, and the winner of the contest can gain sole access to a Second Life private island for 6 months, as well as L$350,000 seed money, and strategic guidance from Edelman and The Electric Sheep Company. Two runners-up can win L$100,000. Your business needs to be focused on the Second Life community, but there are no requirements as to what kind of business.

The companies are holding a panel to discuss entrepreneurship in the virtual world of Second Life this Friday. Deadline for entries to the competition is February December 20th.

I like the idea of actively investing in SL entrepreneurs in a formal way, a way that fosters professionalism on the Grid. There’s so much space for innovation in Second Life, it’s great to see someone plunk down some money to push it forward.

Edelman and the Sheep (who sponsor 3pointD) are also launching a cool new site called the Grid Review, which will feature short machinima news pieces about things going on around Second Life. There will be one or two regular reporters, I hear, but residents will also be able to submit their own news stories about the cool things they’re stumbled across on the Grid. This sounds like it’s going to be a very cool project, and I’m looking forward to seeing what people come up with.