The Value Investing Congress has announced the launch of a top idea contest called the Value Investing Challenge. The idea is to give “lesser-known (but equally-brilliant) investors” the opportunity to present at the next Value Investing Congress  taking place October 1 & 2, 2012 in NYC alongside world-renowned investors including David Einhorn, and Bill Ackman.

“The goal of the Value Investing Congress has always been to bring the best and brightest on stage in an environment where differentiated thinking can thrive,” said Whitney Tilson, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Value Investing Congress. “This new contest will help ensure that Congress attendees are getting the chance to capitalize on a truly unique perspective and hear from one investor whose idea rose to the top.”

To be eligible, contest participants must be current members of the SumZero community and employed at a hedge fund, mutual fund or private equity fund.

Here’s the press release:

July 11, 2012 12:30 ET

Value Investing Congress and SumZero Announce Partnership for the 1st Value Investing Challenge

Challenge Winner Will Have the Opportunity to Present His/Her Best Idea at the 8th Annual New York Value Investing Congress

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – Jul 11, 2012) – The Value Investing Congress and SumZero, Inc. yesterday announced the launch of a top idea contest, the Value Investing Challenge. The ultimate Challenge goal is to encourage high-quality investment research, unearth top investing talent, and level the playing field so that lesser-known (but equally-brilliant) investors have the opportunity to present in front of the same high-profile Value Investing Congress audience as legendary investors such as David Einhorn and Bill Ackman.

Contestants are asked to contribute one investment write-up covering a company of at least $300 million in market capitalization. Submissions will be evaluated by a team of well-known value investors with several decades of professional experience between them.

The winner of the Value Investing Challenge will get the opportunity to present his/her idea at the next Value Investing Congress taking place October 1 & 2, 2012 in NYC alongside world-renowned investors including David Einhorn, Barry Rosenstein, and Alex Roepers, to name a few.

“The goal of the Value Investing Congress has always been to bring the best and brightest on stage in an environment where differentiated thinking can thrive,” said Whitney Tilson, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Value Investing Congress. “This new contest will help ensure that Congress attendees are getting the chance to capitalize on a truly unique perspective and hear from one investor whose idea rose to the top.”

“One of the reasons we created this contest is to identify a new breed of great investors who otherwise might never get the chance to present their thinking on such a grand platform,” said Divya Narendra, CEO/Co-Founder of SumZero, Inc. “There are a huge number of incredibly-talented investors who do not get heard on a large scale because they don’t manage a lot of assets or because they haven’t made a blockbuster trade. This contest is designed to rectify that. It’s about creating opportunities, identifying talent, and adding to the conversation.”

Eligible contest participants must be current members of the SumZero community and must be currently employed at a hedge fund, mutual fund or private equity fund with limited exception. More information on eligibility and how to enter the contest is available at the official site of the contest: www.valueinvestingchallenge.com.

The contest officially kicks off on July 10, 2012 and will conclude on August 17, 2012. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, September 18, 2012.

More information on eligibility and how to enter the contest is available at valueinvestingchallenge.com.