UK Venture Challenge Registration Opens for Student Entrepreneurs
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 17, 2013) — Registration is now open for UK Venture Challenge, the university’s annual business competition for student entrepreneurs, Feb. 16 at the James F. Hardymon Theater in the Davis Marksbury Building. Teams compete for $3,000 in prize money and the opportunity to represent UK at the state business competition, Idea State U.
“This is a great opportunity for students who have an idea for an innovation to develop that idea into a potential business venture,” said Dan O’Hair, iNET advisory board chair, College of Communication and Information dean, and interim senior vice provost for student success. “It is also the perfect opportunity for our students to show off their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit!”
All UK undergraduate and graduate students with an idea for an innovation, service or product for either a for-profit or nonprofit business venture are eligible to compete. Students select either the business concept or the business plan category, submit a written entry, and make a pitch before a panel of judges on Feb. 16. See the UK Venture Challenge Rules & Guidelines for more information. Written entries are due Jan. 28.
A new feature of the competition this year allows the public to vote for their favorite student venture video. Participating students will be encouraging their supporters to cast a daily vote until voting closes at midnight Feb. 15. The winner will be announced following the presentations on Feb. 16.
The cash-prize sponsor of UK Venture Challenge for the second year in a row is the Bluegrass Business Development Partnership (BBDP). The BBDP includes the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Commerce Lexington and the University of Kentucky.
UK Venture Challenge is organized by iNET, the University of Kentucky Innovation Network for Entrepreneurial Thinking, in cooperation with the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship, the College of Engineering, and other partners in the iNET network. iNET is hosted by the UK College of Communication and Information.
Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859)323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu
