Colorado State University College Of Business to Host 16 Universities At Competition April 17-18

The Center for Entrepreneurship at Colorado State University’s College of Business will host Venture Adventure, a two-day business plan competition on Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, in Rockwell Hall.

Sixteen universities throughout the country will compete for cash prizes totaling more than $11,000 at the ninth annual competition. Members of the public are invited to attend.

"Venture Adventure gives students the opportunity to share their innovative business ideas with a panel of judges, and allows the students to receive valuable feedback before launching their businesses," said Alyssa Westfall, director of Venture Adventure.

Colorado State’s Venture Adventure competition gives undergraduate students the opportunity to present their ideas and plans for realistic, new business ventures to a panel of judges made up of community entrepreneurs and investors. Teams receive feedback from the judging panel that offers insight into real-world entrepreneurial challenges and allows contestants to sharpen their business planning and presentation skills.

Each team will submit a complete business plan to judges who will review the plans prior to the competition and score them based on the executive summary, company overview, product or service, market analysis, management team, operating strategies, financials, viability and innovation.

Round one of the competition is Friday. First-place winners for each track will advance to the finals on Saturday. Five finalists will compete based on an oral presentation on Saturday.

This year, the event will begin with an elevator pitch by all the green social and sustainable business plan entrants. The winner will receive the $500 New Belgium Green Social and Sustainable Award.

Several schools that competed in the past have returned to the competition this year. In addition to Colorado State, this year’s competitors include teams from all over the United States such as Syracuse University, Yale University, University of Illinois and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Venture Adventure is sponsored by the Department of Management in the Colorado State University College of Business, Professional Document Management, and New Belgium Brewing.

The College of Business Entrepreneurship Center focuses on creating real-world learning experiences for students who aspire to become entrepreneurs through academic programs and entrepreneurial mentoring. The center hosts programs such as the Great Entrepreneur Speakers Series, the Entrepreneur Rotating Dinner and the Venture Adventure competition.

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