• Adweek, Wednesday, November 29, 2006 11:45 AM

To promote the launch of its Small Business Accounting software, Microsoft kicked off an "Ultimate Challenge" van tour of five American cites. The goal is to collect great business ideas for a contest dubbed "IdeaWins." The event in New York's Times Square will be followed by stops in Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago and Atlanta.

Visitors to the ideawins.com Web site will be able to track the progress of the ideas via a reality show-style online series. Finalists will then make pitches on a network morning show. The person who submits the best idea will receive $100,000 and free retail space in New York City for a year.

National ads supporting the effort include TV, print, radio and online work. TV spots ask, "What is your big idea?" with graphics of possible products, such as an electric spinning fork, a four-sided TV and fruit-flavored coffee. The ads urge consumers to "Make it happen" by downloading Microsoft's free software.

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