Anthony Rodd
arodd@uwyo.edu
The Wyoming Technology Business Center’s Fisher Innovation Challenge, a brand new entrepreneurship competition possessing a $100,000 seed fund, is encouraging students to entrepreneur within the state.
It is in its fourth week of student idea discussions.
The Fisher Innovation Challenge is a competition among entrepreneuring University of Wyoming students for entrepreneurship designs, which after being judged and qualified, will be eligible to apply for a $100,000 seed fund.
This innovation competition is entirely due to donations from Donne Fisher, co-founder of Fisher Capital Partners Ltd., and the UW Office of Research and Economic Development.
The Wyoming Technology Business Center [WTBC] directs the innovation challenge.
“Our mission is to support the growth and development of early stage high technology and entrepreneurial businesses at the university and across the state,” Jonathon Benson, CEO of the Wyoming Technology Business Center, said. “Donne Fisher wants to push the principles of entrepreneurship across the university, and he saw the Wyoming Technology Business Center and this innovation challenge as an excellent vehicle for doing so.”
Benson said the program has seen about 25 candidates but hopes to have more despite the risks some students might feel when they think about starting a business.
“Starting your own business can be scary, especially when you don’t know where to start or you think your idea is a mess, but your idea doesn’t have to be polished, I just want you to come talk to me,” Benson said.
Along with helping students start their own businesses, Christine Langley, CEO of the Wyoming Technology Business Center, said it is an excellent opportunity for economic growth in the state.
“Wyoming has very little startups, and this causes our number one export in Wyoming to be our educated youth,” Langley said. “What we’re trying to do is inspire students to start businesses while they are in school so that when they graduate, owning their own company becomes a viable option, and additionally there are more jobs for everyone else.”
The Fisher Innovation Challenge is for business ideas, so any student with any major can register to have their business idea looked at.
“It doesn’t matter what you study or do for a living. Anyone can start a business around a particular expertise that they have developed, and we want students to see that potential,” Langley said.
The registration deadline for the innovation challenge is April 15, and semi finalists and finalists will be determined by a panel of judges and announced in the following weeks.
The finalists will be assigned a Wyoming Technology Business Center adviser and they will prepare pitches for qualifying pitch day. The winners of the qualifying pitch day will be given $2,500, and be eligible to apply for a $100,000 seed fund for their business idea.
“Many students get an education and leave the state because they can’t find a job, or maybe their education simply isn’t applicable,” Langley said. “What we’re saying is make your education applicable by starting your own business. Be in control of your own destiny, it’s the surest way to succeed.”
