Top 19 Teams Selected for Next Round of Entrepreneur Challenge

The fourth annual Emporia Entrepreneurial Challenge, a venture idea competition for students at Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College, kicked off last month with 50 teams submitting entries. 

On March 6, 19 of those teams were selected to move on to the semifinal round of the competition. Students will have until early April to refine their big ideas and prepare for oral presentations. During this time, teams are encouraged to work with community resources for feedback and suggestions on their business plan. On March 15, the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce will host a meet and greet for student teams and local business owners at the Trusler Business Center in downtown Emporia.

On April 3 and 4, semifinalists will have 15 minutes to pitch their final business plans to a panel of judges and answer a series of questions. Next, teams will participate in a Community Showcase on April 10, where they will set up interactive booths for their concepts. This event will be held in the KSTC Ballroom at Emporia State from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is open to the public after 11:00 a.m. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams: $2,500 for first, $1,500 for second, and $500 for third.

Semifinalist teams: