PRE-WORKSHOP SERIES

OPTIONAL, BUT HIGHLY ENCOURAGED 

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$7,000 in prize money for an innovative startup idea? Yes! Come learn about the campus-wide annual tech idea pitch competition happening this semester by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE)!

Harlan Beverly headshot

After the information session, Dr. Harlan Beverly, 4-time startup founder and holder of more than 20 innovation patents will be holding an "Idea Workshop".  If you are looking for a great startup idea or just want to know if your idea is "good enough to compete", this workshop is for you.  Dr. Beverly will present the 5 greatest technologies leading innovation today, including AI, drones, and blockchain. Afterwards, we will explore big challenges in consumer and business markets. 

Finally, there will be a guided brainstorm to help find new ideas and then test your ideas in small groups to get feedback. Dr. Beverly will be on hand to help give a quick assessment of your ideas as well.

Co-founder workshop & Innovation Session

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Innovators meet co-founders! Finding a co-founder or teammate for a new startup can be hard.  Find the perfect team-mate for your startup idea and learn how you could win your share of 7,000 in prizes on-campus.  

Join Kelly Mattarocci, alumnus, CPA and business owner leads this dynamic workshop which helps matches innovators with business students to support the creation of ventures that can be commercialized. 

Kelly Mattarocci headshot

KICKOFF NIGHT

REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE 

FRIDAY, MARCH 21

Networking     
5:30pm · McCoy Atrium 4th floor


Cole Wollak headshot

Keynote and Dinner      
6-7:30pm · McCoy Atrium 4th floor 

 

Cole Wollak   
What It Takes to Pitch to a VC or Angel Investor 

SKILLS WORKSHOP

ATTENDANCE BY AT LEAST ONE TEAM MEMBER IS REQUIRED AT EACH EVENT 

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

CIE GATHERING SPACE ∗ ALKEK 350 


Lunch Networking      
12-1pm 


Workshop #1     
2:45-4:15 pm · Quinn

Problem and Solution Pitch Basics + 
Outline of Pitch Deck


Workshop #2     
2:30-3:30 pm · Sam Marsh

Market Research and Marketing Sizing +    
Competitive Analysis  

MONDAY, MARCH 24

VIA ZOOM


Workshop #3      
6-7 pm · Dr. Vance Lesseig

Financial Information for Start-Ups

1-ON-1 MENTORSHIPS

To access these 30 minute mentor sessions via Zoom, at least one team member must attend all three of the skills workshops

MARCH 25

Law, Patents, IP and LLCs      
Tuesday 5-8 pm · John Glode

John Glode headshot

Funding Opportunities      
Tuesday 5-8 pm · TBA

MARCH 26

Market Research    
Wed 5-8 pm · Sam Marsh, STEM & Entrepreneurship Librarian


SBDC Resources + Business Plans      
Wed 5-8 pm · Joe Harper 

MARCH 27

Pitch Deck    
Thursday 5-8 pm · Quinn 

Quinn headshot

How to License Your Invention     
Thursday 5-8 pm · Robert Reis

PITCH COMPETITION

March 29 ∗ 1:30-3:30pm

McCoy 119

5 minute Venture Team Pitch with 5 minute judge Q&A

Smiling judges and participants in the Bobcat Innovation Challenge

Group A: 1st place

RideStar by Nishreeta Karki and Jarred Oliver

Bobcat Innovation Challenge logo
Judges and students smiling at the Bobcat Innovation Challenge

Group B: 1st place

Himalayan Threads

AWARD PRIZES FOR TEAMS

  • 1st - $2500
  • 2nd - $2000
  • 3rd - $1500
  • 4th - $1000
  • 5th - $500