Aspiring student entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to pitch their ideas and, potentially, walk away with a share of $25,000 in seed capital when the LSU Student Incubator hosts its fourth annual Venture Challenge April 23 at the Lod Cook Hotel.
The Venture Challenge is a two-round business plan competition that showcases LSU’s brightest student entrepreneurs, offering them access to capital and resources. As reported by Daily Report, one of last year’s winners—Andrea Roberts—recently launched a family-friendly fitness center on Airline Highway, thanks in part to the $3,000 in prize money she picked up at the 2014 competition.
“Full time students traditionally have trouble finding capital to fund their entrepreneurial ventures, and the Venture Challenge provides access to cash, right in students’ backyard,” LSU Student Incubator Director Kenny Anderson says.
Participants will meet with a personal business consultant to effectively develop a business plan to submit by Wednesday, April 8, for the first round of the challenge. A panel of judges from the LSU and Baton Rouge business communities will evaluate and select the top four business plans to proceed to the final round of competition.
The culmination of the Venture Challenge will result in the LSU Student Incubator awarding $23,500 among the four finalists. A $1,500 award between the “Audience Choice” winner and runner-up selected from the Startup Showcase will follow.
Students must join the LSU Student Incubator by March 23 to be eligible to compete. Get complete details on the Venture Challenge.
