Regnier Venture Creation Challenge Underway

16 Semifinalists Announced

The Regnier Venture Creation Challenge kicked off its annual two-part event Friday, April 29. Each spring, the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management hosts a business plan competition in which students can present new concepts to local investors, business leaders and entrepreneurs. A total of $40,000 will be awarded with the first place team receiving $10,000.

The event was divided into two days, and the first day showcased the elevator pitch and expo sections of the competition. After an initial prescreening, 45 qualifying teams were present in the Henry W. Bloch Executive Hall for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where one individual from each team delivered a two-minute sales presentation to judges. Immediately following was the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge expo. Each team hosted a booth representing their venture and spoke to judges and community members about their business model and upcoming strategies.

“The ventures presenting at this event are always immensely impressive, and this year was no exception,” said Dr. Jeff Hornsby, Director of the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “Our students put so much hard work and preparation into the Venture Creation Challenge, and we couldn’t be prouder of each and every team. We were also pleased to have teams from Mizzou, Missouri S&T, Emporia State and William Jewell in our competition this year.”

Following the expo, an esteemed judges panel, made up of 18 local entrepreneurs and venture professionals, deliberated and narrowed the pool to 16 semifinalist ventures based on the submitted business plan and performance in the elevator pitch and venture expo.

The 2016 Venture Creation Challenge semifinalists, each of whom are guaranteed a $1,000 cash prize, are:

  • BluePrint 3D
  • Centered Spirit
  • EdBridge Inc.
  • Exuma
  • Global Security and Intelligence (GSI), LLC
  • Gr8box, Inc.
  • HammerSpace
  • Mild Stranger Productions
  • My Heart Outcomes
  • Ortho on Demand
  • Pennex
  • Rehab360
  • Strange Days Brewing Co.
  • Technovate Portable Pathogen Detection Device
  • TicketRx
  • YouSpin

Semifinalist presentations will take place from 9:30-11:10 a.m. Friday, May 6, in the Bloch Executive Hall. Finalists will be announced at 12 p.m., with presentations beginning at 12:15 p.m. The 2016 Regnier Venture Creation Challenge closing ceremony and awards presentation will take place at 2:45 p.m. in the Bloch Executive Hall, room 218.

For more information on the 2016 Venture Creation Challenge, contact Jeff Hornsby at hornsbyj@umkd.edu or 816-235-2320.

 

 


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