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<u>BizPitch</u>: Each Spring, the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship hosts a business pitch competition for the most promising University of Minnesota's student ideas. In 2014, over 60 students applied with business concepts ranging from local hops farms to customizable refrigerator magnets. They are first tested through a lengthly application process, and then tried with a 90 second business pitch in front of an auditorium filled with local attourneys, businessmen, potential investors, and other aspiring students. The winner recieves a $1000 check from the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship to help with startup-funding, as well as networking connections from across the state.
<u>The Launch Pad</u>: Recently started by the University of Minnesota Co-Lab idea incubator, Launch Pad is a forum through which students pitch their business ideas to a more focused and specialized group of panelists from the University and beyond. Modeled after the show Shark Tank, events are held on the first and third friday of each month. Each show has two student ventures. Each is given 6 minutes to disucss their business and their obstacles. Pitches are followed by a respective 20 minutes of constructive conversation. The audience is welcome to approach the presenters afterward with additional opportunities and resources.
<u>Campus Innovation Contest</u>: Sponsored by the University of Minnesota Co-Lab idea incubator, these contests are an opportunity to source student input and ideas to solve pressing issues at the University. The contest started in the Spring of 2014. Security had been a growing issue at the University. The original contest revolved around reducing crime on campus. Leveraging an idea submission and voting platform, students published their ideas. The most highly regarded solutions presented at a showcase in front of University officials. Winners received prize money and all finalists received services from Co-Lab. Such contests are planned to continue one during each semester. For the fall of 2014, the contest is championing Operation Excellence to help the school make its processes more efficient and save money.
<u>Minnesota Cup</u>: This is Minnesota's largest and most prestigious business plan contest. Over the last 10 years, the Cup has given away more that $1,000,000 to dozens of businesses. In 2014 alone, more than 1,200 applicants competed in 7 catagories, including catagories for social and student ventures. While not exclusively a University function, the Carlson School of Management was one of the founding sponsors and continues to offer its services and resources to applicants. Interestingly enough, 37% of all applicants had an University of Minnesota affiliation. Since it's founding, Cup finalists have went on to raise more than $160 million in capital and a handful have been acquired.
<u>Hackathon</u>: The University of Minnesota has a thriving Computer Science and Computer Engineering community, and with that come student, as well as faculty and 3rd party, organized hackathons. These events take place most commonly over the weekends in the winter months, and focus on bringing an innovative or entrepreneurial atmosphere to a very technical study. Participants are presented with a real-world problem that can be solved through unique software developements. One such example is the University's 'Visualizing Neighborhoods' hackathon through the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. The 'hackers' worked on developing software that would more effectively monitor and optimize urban bus routes for inner-city primary and secondary schools. The resulting software was implemented and is in use in Minneapolis today.
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