The Menard Family Initiative is pleased to announce our third annual Entrepreneurship Research Conference, taking place from Wednesday, October 9th to Thursday, October 10th, in Cleary Great Hall. This two-day event will feature two keynote speakers, a student business idea showcase, a panel discussion with local entrepreneurs, and academic sessions led by distinguished guests from both on and off campus.
Our two keynote speakers will be:
Dr. Fossen is a Professor of Economics and the Charles N. Mathewson Professor in Entrepreneurship at the Department of Economics at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is also a Research Fellow of IZA. Before joining the University of Nevada, Reno in October 2016, he was an Assistant Professor of Public Economics at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
Dr. Boudreaux is an associate professor of economics at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and a research fellow for the Phil Smith Center for Free Enterprise. He earned his PhD from Florida State University and taught at Texas A&M International University before FAU. His teaching and research interests are primarily related to entrepreneurship and innovation.
We are inviting students to showcase their business ideas or innovations through poster presentations during the Student Poster Sessions (titled Visionary Ventures) on October 9th from 1:00 to 2:00 PM in the Great Hall - Cleary Alumni Center. You are welcome to work together with another student on this. This year, we're thrilled to welcome Garrett Lauderdale, Vice President and local venture capitalist with the Idea Fund, as one of our distinguished judges for the student poster competition. You can still have your poster displayed even if you cannot attend the session.
Here are the details you need to know:
Submission Deadline: To participate, you will need to submit a summary of your idea by emailing menardinitiative@uwlax.edu by Friday, September 27th.
Reward: Every student whose poster is selected for presentation will receive a $50 scholarship as a token of our appreciation for your contribution. If working as a group, this scholarship will be split among the students.
Prizes for Top Posters: In addition to the $50 scholarship, we are offering larger prizes (paid in the form of a scholarship) for the top three rated posters:
- 1st Place: $1,000 - Sponsored in part by the Idea Fund
- 2nd Place: $300
- 3rd Place: $200
Your poster should address:
- Overview & Fit: Highlight why you or your team is uniquely qualified to solve this problem, showcasing relevant expertise and experience.
- Problem, Solution & Differentiation: Define the problem, present the solution, and explain how it stands out from current competitors.
- Market Opportunity & Business Model: Outline the market size, target customer profile, and the business model for capturing value.
- Next Steps: Detail the immediate actions needed to validate the idea and advance the project forward.
How Visionary Ventures Works:
Posters will be rated by CBA faculty, your fellow students, academic experts on entrepreneurship, and Garrett Lauderdale, Vice President of the Idea Fund and local venture capitalist. The Idea Fund is generously matching the MFI's $500 contribution to the first-place winner. This is an excellent opportunity to gain recognition for your innovative ideas and receive valuable feedback from industry experts and fellow students. There will be local entrepreneurs in attendance as well who can provide feedback and allow for potential networking opportunities. Students will answers questions and provide their pitch as people walk by during the hour.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the poster submission process, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
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