Competition that Makes a Difference

EntrepreNU Competition

The EntrepreNU Competition is a new program run by a group of faculty and staff from all four Colleges, the Levesque Institute, and ReNU Niagara.  Students will compete to create a self-sustaining business or entity that addresses a local social problem – with the winning team receiving up to $10,000 in start-up funding.  This year, the focus is on food, nutrition, and hunger in Niagara Falls and we are searching for new, innovative ideas that are also feasible and realistic.  The competition aims to:

1. Help students learn and grow by giving them the opportunity to create, and take responsibility for, something meaningful
2. Increase student engagement and excitement on campus
3. Further our mission by helping members of our local community

Procedures

The final details for the student competition will be announced at the Launch Party on September 26^th at 2pm in the Multipurpose Room in Gally, but the initial proposal will have three parts:

1. A 3-5 page concept paper explaining the idea in more depth
2. A 2-5 minute video introducing the team and idea to the world
3. A brief overview of the business plan using Business Model Canvas (http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas/bmc)

The competition will follow this rough timeline:

1. After the launch, students will have a couple weeks to finalize teams, and then teams must register by early October
2. A community meeting, a series of workshops, and some discussion sessions will be held throughout the Fall semester to aid students in creating their proposals
3. Initial proposals before Thanksgiving so that three finalists can be selected before Christmas Break.  Each of the three will win $500
4. The three final teams will receive mentoring for the next three months and make their final presentation in early March
5. The winning team will be announced by Spring Break and have access to a $10,000 start-up fund

More information at: www.niagara.edu/entrepreNU

Follow us on Twitter: @EntrepreNU

Or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/entrepreNU

e-mail us at: entrepreNU@niagara.edu