How might we inspire undergraduate students to actively participate in entrepreneurship without intimidating them?
Industry: Education (University Entrepreneurship)
Role: Completed Individually
Skills Used: Entrepreneurship, Event Planning, Networking, Business Model Consulting, and Presentation Consulting.
Background
During my two year undergraduate fellowship with the Blackstone LaunchPad, I was constantly tasked with promoting entrepreneurship. I wanted to find a new way to get all students excited about entrepreneurship. I decided to make it a semester-long project to create the first annual Idea Stage Pitch Competition — an event focused on getting students without actual businesses and prototypes to be active participants in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Process
There were nearly 40 applications following various marketing efforts. The 10 accepted idea-stage companies met with Blackstone LaunchPad mentors from the Austin community as well as myself once a week for three weeks. Additionally, after the competition all teams received feedback from and connected with the judges.
The 10 teams grew their skills, experiences, and network tremendously throughout the university and Austin entrepreneurial ecosystems in a matter of weeks.
There were was one overall winner and two teams who received honorable mention.
The competition has now spread to Blackstone LaunchPads across the country. Here is an example.
Where are they now?
This is what makes entrepreneurship so exciting.
