Three finalists to present product ideas to panel of professionals
Securing thousands of dollars in capital for a new business while preparing a term paper for an English 315 class is one definition of multitasking.
For those overachievers who can juggle starting a business venture while completing college, the Brigham Young University Center for Entrepreneurship is sponsoring the 14th annual Student Entrepreneur of the Year competition, which will offer winners more than $40,000 in cash and in-kind services from supporters of the Center for Entrepreneurship.
The student competition is the pillar event through which many venture capitalists and entrepreneurs are introduced to students and their companies. Winners walk away with the capital and resources to start their businesses.
The final event will take place on Friday, Oct. 14, in 151 Tanner Building from 2-4 p.m. A question-and-answer session will take place immediately following the final event for the media. More information on the competition is available online at seoy.byu.edu.
Twenty-two students applied for the competition, and after three intense rounds of judging, the three remaining finalists were chosen and will be ready to present on Oct. 14. These finalists will be judged by professional entrepreneurs on their entrepreneurial experience and their current entrepreneurial success.
“The SEOY is a tremendous opportunity for students to showcase their successful entrepreneurial ventures, receive first-class mentoring from proven business leaders and be recognized both financially and professionally for their demonstration of innovation, skill, work habits, persistence, personal dedication and sacrifice,” says Scott Petersen, founder of the Center for Entrepreneurship.
"To see a business opportunity and seize it takes character, valor and an atypical approach to the obvious."
“The Student Entrepreneur of the Year competition benefited me by putting me in contact with other successful entrepreneurs, mentors and founders who helped me with ideas and problem-solving solutions for my business. Still to this day I stay in contact with one of my mentors from the competition,” says Justin Kent, owner of Uniglass and recent SEOY winner.
The Student Entrepreneur of the Year competition began in 1992 as a way for the Center for Entrepreneurship to recognize students who start their own businesses while in school. It is hosted by the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization. Past winners include the founders of DearElder.com, Nickelcade, The Quarry and DownEast Outfitters.
