Top 20 Teams Selected for Next Round of Entrepreneur Challenge

The third annual Emporia Entrepreneurial Challenge, a venture idea competition for Emporia State and Flint Hills Technical College students, kicked off last month with 37 teams submitting entries. 

On March 4, 20 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 22, the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce will host a meet and greet for student teams and local business owners at Twin Rivers Wine and Gourmet Shoppe in downtown Emporia.

On April 4 and 5, 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 11, where they will set up interactive booths for their concepts. This event is open to the public and will be held in the KSTC Ballroom at Emporia State from 11 a.m. to noon. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams: $2,500 for first, $1,500 for second and $500 for third.

Dr. Nathan Woolard, assistant professor in the School of Business, has been the primary driver for this event since its inception in 2014.

“We are seeing the level of quality and competition increase each year,” said Woolard. “Our hope is to grow beyond just a competition, and become a community-wide group for aspiring entrepreneurs from all academic disciplines.”

Semifinalist teams: