According to NNBW.com, “A pizza restaurant that got its start as a prize-winning entry in a student business-plan competition opened its doors for real last week.”

“MJ’s Pizzeria got its start as a brainstorm by a team led by James Blood, a Truckee Meadows Community College student, during the annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Business Plan Competition in the spring of 2009. The proposal: A restaurant with a menu that would include vegan and gluten-free pizzas along with more traditional offerings. Judges thought the idea was good enough that the team won a $5,000 award for third place in the competition among collegians statewide. The money was helpful, Blood said last week, but the psychological boost from the award was even more powerful.”