Start-up funding to be awarded for Kansas college students in New Venture competition
Registered teams will be judged on their ability to succinctly encapsulate their business concept through a market analysis, a clear value proposition and a sustainable competitive advantage.
"This is a great opportunity for teams to present their ideas in a competitive environment, receive strong feedback and see how ready they are to launch a business," said Mark Torline, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and chief judge of the SNVC.
Start-up capital will be awarded to the winning teams to aid in the launch of their new ventures. This year, teams participating in the Trade Show will be eligible to receive the People's Choice Award, which will be given to the Trade Show team that student judges deem to have the most commercially viable business venture.
The competition began with submissions of applications, which included a three-minute video of the proposal. A selection board moved 32 teams to the next round of competition. Those teams are required to submit a 10-page business plan by April 3.
The Trade Show will take place Friday, April 21, in Charles Koch Arena. The 16 teams participating in the Trade Show will pitch their concepts to more than 100 business leaders.
Six teams will be selected to continue into the final round, 1 p.m. Friday, April 28, in Devlin Hall. The final round is open to the public, with a reception from 4-6 p.m.
Students from all universities and colleges in Kansas are eligible to compete. For more details, go to http://www.wichita.edu/snvc.
The 2017 SNVC sponsors include Foulston Siefkin, NetWork Kansas, IMA Financial Group, High Touch Technologies, Viaan Electronics, R.D. Henry & Company, INTRUST Bank, Riverside Healthcare Foundation and Lubrication Engineers.