University Business Plan Competitions

David Smukowski, founder of Boeing Ventures and one of the event’s judges, praised the creativity of each team but said that all of them needed to pay more attention to marketing. He hoped the winners would use the money to push their ideas forward and contribute money back ot the university in the future.

Those teams will receive assistance from a professional mentor to develop their business plans, which will be presented on March 11. In addition to the $40,000 grand prize, nearly $100,000 in secondary prizes and in-kind services will be awarded.

"I think it really is a lot of first-time entrepreneurs," Still said. While they many have business experience, many may not have been exposed to the process of starting a company and winning investments.

Teams vie for $80,000 in cash prizes, with the help of community business mentors, help sessions and special speakers.

"The Murphy Enterprise Center exists to help in the launch of new businesses and provide opportunities for students. There’s no better way to help make that happen than to provide a way for students to earn the seed money to make it happen," says Eileen Curry, Resnik center director.

"It’s one thing to spend all your time talking about your technology. It’s another to show how that plan is going to turn into revenue. That’s what investors want to see."

"California– a leader in entrepreneurship and innovation and the sixth largest economy in the world — is challenging innovators from around the world to participate in a global contest to advance the best and the brightest information technology solutions in the California Challenge," said Jim Cushing, the chairman of Next Generation Cities http://www.nextgenerationcities.com/ and a successful California entrepreneur. "The California Challenge will provide its entrants direct access into the California economy, its employers and venture funds."

The Utah Entrepreneur Challenge will kick off its statewide business competition for college students today at the University of Utah. The David Eccles School of Business and its Utah Entrepreneur Center will host speaker Charles…

Adam Edmunds created SilentWhistle to allow companies to electronically elicit information big and small, from something as simple as an employee suggestion on how a company can save money to something as sensitive as an allegation about fraud or sexual harassment.

Student Andrew DeKay of Kenmore said the trade show was a useful lesson. As CEO of his make-believe corporation, he learned the importance of teamwork.

"I learned that ducks fly 40 percent more efficiently when they’re flying in a V," the 17-year-old said.