A new West Virginia University program will help eco-minded student entrepreneurs develop plans that meet the ever-growing demand for alternative energy innovations.
A business plan development competition focused on science, technology, engineering and the environment, the West Virginia Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge encourages college and high school students of all academic ranks and majors to develop and commercialize innovative technology in the fields of environment, energy, engineering, medicine and the natural and applied sciences.
Students will compete for three prize packages including cash and in-kind services valued at more than $55,000. Prizes and awards valued have been funded in part by The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
Interested students are asked to submit a brief abstract and executive summary of their business ideas by filling out the registration form available at http://wvtec.davis.wvu.edu/registration-form.
“A successful entry will offer substantial growth potential and high probability for scaling revenues,” explained Fonda Holehouse, assistant professor of agricultural and resource economics in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. “Plans will be reviewed based on potential for success including likelihood of survival in five years.”
A range of new, independent venture ideas will be sought and specific areas of interest include but are not limited to topics such as renewable energy sources, water resource management technology, waste or emissions reduction, energy conservation and efficiency, and green design.
From the initial submissions the field will be narrowed to a group of finalists. During the five-month challenge finalists will work with mentors to build their business plans and then present them to a panel of judges.
The competition is hosted by the WVU Davis College in conjunction with the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, the National Research Center for Coal and Energy with its TransTech Business Development Conference, and WV PRIME.
The deadline to register for the challenge is Nov. 15 with the executive summary due no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 16. Finalists will be announced Dec. 7.
Visit wvtec.davis.wvu.edu for more information on and to register for the West Virginia Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge.
-WVU-
law/10/25/12
CONTACT: Fonda Holehouse
304-293-5523, Fonda.Holehouse@mail.wvu.edu
Gerard D’Souza
304-293-5490, Gerard.D’Souza@mail.wvu.edu
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