News Release
____________________________________________________________
March 9, 2006
Boise State to Host International Student Business Plan
Competition March 22-24
Boise State University will host the fifth annual Northwest Venture
Championship� March 22-24 where teams of graduate and undergraduate students
compete for more than $20,000 in prizes.
The business plan competition started as a small, regional competition and
has grown into an international event that has welcomed students and faculty
from across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Australia.
�The teams have become more competitive, the business ideas more innovative
and involvement of the business community more widespread,� said Kent
Neupert, a Boise State professor of international business and organizer for
the competition.
Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne declared March 20-24 Entrepreneurship Week in
Idaho partly to recognize the contributions of the Northwest Venture
Championship in making Idaho a rich growing ground for new innovations and
entrepreneurs.
The initial idea behind Northwest Venture Championship� was to inspire and
encourage students to act on their own ideas for creating new businesses. By
crafting business plans and presenting their ideas before a panel of
entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and other business support professionals,
student teams prepare themselves for the challenges of turning their
concepts into commercial enterprises.
In an effort to also create economic development, this year�s winners will
receive a year�s office space and business consulting services if they set
up as an Idaho business entity. This is in addition to the cash prizes they
receive to help finance their venture.
Boise State�s undergraduate track representative in the competition is Avi-Safe
Technologies, a company that is developing an innovative avalanche beacon
technology product. Grant Kendall, a management and entrepreneurship
student, is the company CEO. The Boise State graduate team is Globecom
Technology made up of Marc Morris (undergraduate student studying
international business and marketing), Josh Woodard (undergraduate student
in entrepreneurship) and Evan Hoge (MBA student). Their product, My U3 PC,
is an innovative portable, personal and secure computing environment
tailored for college students.
Other teams participating in the graduate competition include Ball State
University, Carleton University, Loyola Marymount University, University of
Manitoba, University of Michigan, Washington State University Tri-cities,
Washington State University, University of Georgia and the Yale School of
Management. Undergraduate track competitors include Baylor University,
University of Arizona, University of Houston, University of Manitoba and
Washington State University.
The Northwest Venture Championship unfolds over three days, beginning
Wednesday, March 22. All events are free and open to the public unless
otherwise noted. The schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, March 22
Free Enterprise Entrepreneurship Summit, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Lookout Room,
Boise State Student Union. Undergraduate students from all disciplines are
invited to attend these panel sessions, luncheon and workshops to learn
about starting their own business. Entrepreneurs from fields including
technology, engineering, media, science and business will discuss their
challenges and successes. Hosted by the Collegiate Entrepreneur
Organization.
Northwest Venture Championship Opening Reception, 6-8 p.m., Hatch
Ballroom, Boise State Student Union. In a trade show format, teams display
their business start-up ideas and discuss their business plans. Hosted by
Boise Valley Economic Partnership, Consulate General of Canada, and Idaho
Commerce and Labor.
Thursday, March 23
Northwest Venture Championship First Round Competition, 8:30-11:45 a.m.,
Hatch Ballroom (undergraduate track) and Jordan Ballroom (graduate track),
Boise State Student Union. Participating teams give a 15-minute presentation
and answer questions from judges. Presented by Cooper Norman Certified
Public Accountants and Boise Valley Economic Partnership.
�Lucky or Smart,� keynote presentation featuring Bo Pearson, 7-9
p.m., Egyptian Theater, 700 W. Main St., Boise. Tickets are $35 ($10 for
students) at www.kickstartidaho.com. While still a student, Peabody founded
Tripod Inc, one of the original developers of Web-based personal publishing
and communities, which was sold to Lycos in 1998 for $58 million. His talk
will address what it takes to succeed in business. Presented by KickStand
and Hewlett-Packard.
Friday, March 24
KickStart Workshops for Entrepreneurs, 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Jordan Ballroom,
Boise State Student Union. Cost is $35 ($10 for students). Workshop topics
include the top 10 mistakes entrepreneurs make, financing options, getting a
great idea to market and more. Presented by KickStand. Visit
www.kickstartidaho.com for more information.
Northwest Venture Championship Final Round Competition, 8:30-11:15
a.m., Hatch Ballroom, Boise State Student Union. Division winners from the
first round of competition will compete. Presented by the Asper Centre for
Entrepreneurship and Frazier Technology Ventures.
Northwest Venture Championship �Just Desserts� Awards Reception,
1:30-3 p.m., Lookout Room, Boise State Student Union. Winners of the
competition will be announced. Presented by Woodgrain Millwork.
Visit
www.northwestventurechampionship.org for more information.
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Contact: Kent Neupert, International Business, (208) 426-2397,
kneupert@boisestate.edu
Media Contact: Sherry Squires, University Communications, (208)
426-1563, ssquires@boisestate.edu
Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in
Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190
undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within
eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise
State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and
public service.
The Office of Communications and Marketing
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Boise State University
1910 University Drive -
Education Building, #726 -
Boise Idaho 83725-1030
208-426-1577
(fax)208-426-4001
email communications@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007