By Mike Greife,
April 14, 2017
WARRENSBURG, MO – University of Central Missouri students will have an opportunity
to make connections with successful entrepreneurs and business leaders as they participate
in the UCM Big Idea Business Pitch Competition Friday, April 28, in Ward Edwards Building
on the UCM campus.
Students may submit business plans to judging panels made up of UCM alumni, local
and regional entrepreneurs, bankers and investors until April 18. The competition
will allow students to gain advice, contacts in their industries, and investment opportunities.
Following registration at noon on April 28, students will begin pitching their business
plans to judges at 1:15 p.m. in break out groups. Following the tally of results,
the top three presentations as selected by the judges will make their final pitches
at 3:20 p.m. Awards of $3,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place and $500 for
third place will be presented.
The Big Idea was launched in Fall 2016 to support entrepreneurship and innovation
across the campus and community. It includes the conference where students work side
by side with business leaders on real business projects, a new student organization
that has focused on business innovation and writing business plan competitions, and
a speaker series where entrepreneurs have showcased their business and shared their
experience. The Big Idea Business Pitch Competition is the culmination of a year of
events.
“We’ve had a great response from business leaders, many of them UCM alumni, who see
this as an opportunity to meet talented young entrepreneurs and support them through
mentorship and encouragement,” said Dan Jensen, assistant professor of management
and coordinator of the Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise undergraduate program.
“We held a preliminary event in January that allowed students to familiarize themselves
with the business pitch concept, and students and mentors alike commented on the value
of the concept to educating and encouraging young entrepreneurs.”
Students may register to participate and community members may register to attend
the event at Bigidea@ucmo.edu.
