UT Dallas Business Idea Competition Offers $36,000 in Prizes

Students at The University of Texas at Dallas can turn their business savvy and initiative into cash this fall by competing in the first UT Dallas Business Idea Competition.

The competition offers $36,000 in prizes to student teams that create the best, original new business ideas. The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) at UT Dallas is sponsoring the contest.

The competition is open to all UT Dallas students, who will compete in teams of two to five members in separate graduate and undergraduate divisions. Teams must register their intent to compete on the institute’s website www.innovation.utdallas.edu no later than noon Oct. 4.

Winners in undergraduate and graduate divisions will receive $10,000 each. Cash prizes will also be awarded to two runners-up in each division, as well as to teams recognized for the “The Most Compelling Business Idea” and the “Most Effective Presentation.” Finalists in each category will be announced Oct. 26 and will make their presentations to a panel of judges on Nov. 9.

A review panel will judge submissions on originality, market opportunity, value proposition, competitive advantage and feasibility.

An information session on Sept. 21 drew an overflow crowd of more than 80 potential competitors. “The level of interest and enthusiasm is high. Based on our initial meeting, we expect a bumper crop of interesting and creative new business ideas,” said Dr. David Deeds, academic director of the IIE and an associate professor in the UT Dallas School of Management.

IIE Executive Director Dr. Joseph Picken acknowledged the support of the awards sponsors who will help make the event memorable. Funding for the prizes was provided by:

• Sevin Rosen.
• Hunt Ventures.
• Trailblazer Capital.
• Deloitte.
• Wischmeyer Benefit Partners.
• Wilson Sonsini Goodrich Rosati.
• OnSearch Partners.
• airBand.
• Ceterus.
• InnerWireless.
• Wayport.

Contest rules and instructions are available on the institute’s website: http://innovation.utdallas.edu. For further information, please contact the institute at 972-883-5990.

About the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UT Dallas is a collaborative initiative of the schools of Arts and Humanities; Behavioral and Brain Sciences; Economic, Political and Policy Sciences; Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science; Management; and Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The institute’s programs focus on initiatives in four broad areas: academic and student programs, internal programs and support, community outreach and research. For additional information, please visit the institute’s website at http://innovation.utdallas.edu.

About UT Dallas

The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls more than 14,500 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The University offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UT Dallas, please visit the University’s website at www.utdallas.edu.

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