$100K Challenge Venture Competition

2018 $100K Challenge Venture Competition, April 28

April 20, 2018

The Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation will present its annual $100K Challenge Venture Competition on Saturday, April 28, in Shiley Hall room 301. This competition provides students with the opportunity to receive feedback on their proposed ventures from within the local entrepreneurial community, win cash awards, and move on to the opportunity to acquire seed funding that will help advance an entrepreneurial opportunity to the next stage. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend and watch student presentations.

Returning this year, the $100K Competition includes a special track focused on “Invention,” allowing students to highlight products or services they developed and can take further with the support of the InventOR Statewide student invention program.

Preliminary rounds start at 9 a.m., lunch is noon to 1 p.m., and the finals round is 1 to 3:30 p.m. The Invention round will take place from from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. A reception and announcement of winners takes place from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Prizes include $1,250 for first place (for-profit, non-profit and invetion); $750 for second place (for-profit) and $250 for third place (for-profit). Sponsors include VTM Group, Cinder Staffing, LivePlan, Schlesinger Companies, A to Z Wineworks, AARP Foundation, and the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN).

For more information contact Peter Rachor, Franz Center, at rachor@up.edu.

UP student Michael Williamson awarded runner up in University Start-Up World Cup

October 14, 2016

Michael Williamson, a senior Finance major, was awarded runner up in his category for his venture Sentri Performance at the finals of the University Start-Up World Cup, held Friday, October 7 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Sentri makes a line of lightweight high performance outdoor wear styled as a ‘hoodie’ specially designed by Williamson, and incorporating technical fabric and features.

The 4-day event featured 50 teams from more than 30 countries. Williamson was one of two students representing the USA at the University Start Up World Cup, with the other student being from Stanford University.

Williamson was also the winner of UP’s 2016 $100K Venture Competition last April.

For more information, please contact Peter Rachor, Franz Center, at x7782 or rachor@up.edu.

$100K Challenge Venture Competition, April 23

April 15, 2016

staff & faculty portraits

The Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation will present its annual $100K Challenge Venture Competition on Saturday, April 23, in Shiley Hall room 301. This competition provides students with the opportunity to receive feedback from experts in the entrepreneurial community, win cash prizes, and acquire legal and other services that will help advance an idea to the next stage in the entrepreneurial process. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend and watch student presentations.

Preliminary rounds start at 9 a.m., lunch is noon to 1 p.m., and the finals round is 1 to 3 p.m. A reception and announcement of winners takes place from 3 t0 3:45 p.m. Prizes include $1,250 for first place (for-profit and non-profit); $750 for second place (for-profit) and $250 for third place (for-profit). Sponsors include D&B, LivePlan, Schwabe, Williamson and Wyatt, Domain.com, AARP, Portland Business Journal, and the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN).

For more information contact Peter Rachor, Franz Center, at 7769 or rachor@up.edu.

$100K Challenge: The Results Are In

May 4, 2015

University of Portland students Nick Ost and Paul Dilley placed first in the for-profit business category of the $100K Challenge Venture Competition, an expanded business plan competition hosted by the University’s Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, on Saturday, April 25. Their Seattle-based company, Townie Shades, produces sunglasses that are sourced internationally, feature scenic designs, and sell for about $25.

Ost and Dilley joined forces with a company that was selling Townie Shades but not making a profit. They helped redesign the glasses and re-brand the product, using social media to market their wares. After creating a new business model, Ost and Dilley helped the company sell 5,000 pairs of glasses in six days. They now donate a meal to the homeless in Seattle for every pair of Townie Shades sold.

Emma Englund won first place in the Social Enterprise track with her business plan for “Greatest Generation Project,” which collects stories from the shrinking numbers of World War II veterans and makes those stories available for future generations.

Second place in the for-profit category was Ashley Lund and her business Whereinthe world.com, a travel resource for students. It would allow students to search trip reviews and post their own, as well as easily track their travels and share them with others using a blogging feature.

Alaa AlBanyan captured third place in the for-profit category for the business “ReversaBrush,” a makeup brush cleaning device that can wash and dry up to five brushes by running them through a gentle washing cycle.

The $100K Challenge provides students with the opportunity to receive feedback from experts in the entrepreneurial community, win monetary prizes, and acquire legal, accounting, and other services that will help advance an idea to the next stage in the entrepreneurial process. For more information contact the Franz Center at 7769 or franzcenter@up.edu.

$100K Challenge Venture Competition, April 25

April 20, 2015

The Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation will host its annual $100K Challenge Venture Competition on Saturday, April 25, in Shiley Hall room 301. The competition provides students with the opportunity to receive feedback from experts in the entrepreneurial community, win monetary prizes, and acquire legal, accounting, and other services that will help advance an idea to the next stage in the entrepreneurial process.

All faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend and watch student presentations. Preliminary rounds start at 9 a.m., lunch is noon to 1 p.m., and the finals round is 1 to 3 p.m. A reception and announcement of winners takes place from 3 to 3:45 p.m. More information can be found at http://tinyurl.com/p22uo7k. Prizes include $1,250 for 1st place (for-profit & social enterprise); $750 for 2nd place (for-profit) and $250 for 3rd place (for-profit). Sponsors include VTM Group, Allion Test Labs, Schwabe Williamson and Wyatt, AARP, Foundation, Portland Business Journal, and the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN).

For more information contact Peter Rachor, Franz Center, at 7769 or rachor@up.edu.

$100K Challenge Venture Competition, April 25

April 13, 2015

The Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation is proud to announce this year’s $100K Challenge Venture Competition on Saturday, April 25, in Shiley Hall room 301. This competition provides students with the opportunity to receive feedback from experts in the entrepreneurial community, win monetary prizes, and acquire legal, accounting and other services that will help advance an idea to the next stage in the entrepreneurial process. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend and watch student presentations. Preliminary rounds start at 9 a.m., lunch is noon to 1 p.m., and the finals round is 1 to 3 p.m. A reception and announcement of winners takes place from 3 to 3:45 p.m. More information can be found at http://www.up.edu/cfe/default.aspx?cid=5693.

Prizes include $1,250 for 1st place (for-profit & social enterprise); $750 for 2nd place (for-profit) and $250 for 3rd place (for-profit). Sponsors include VTM Group, Allion Test Labs, Schwabe Williamson and Wyatt, AARP, Foundation, Portland Business Journal, and the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN).

For more information contact Peter Rachor, Franz Center, at 7769 or rachor@up.edu.

$100K Challenge Venture Competition Results

May 5, 2014

Six Shiley School of Engineering students placed first in the for-profit business category of the University of Portland’s $100K Challenge Venture Competition, an expanded business plan competition hosted by the University’s Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. The winning engineering group, Dynamic Assistive Technologies, consisted of Jordan Schiemer, Audre Ramey, Caroline Pisani, Ann Truong, Mikah Bacon, and Matt Brown. The team created an assistive drinking cup for those who suffer from hand tremors.

Second place in the for-profit category was senior entrepreneurship and innovation major Connor Whan and his business, named FlavOils. Third place went to engineering students Sean O’Rourke, Peter Chamberlin, and Nick Mackinnon with their business, AutoPilot Medical Technologies. Junior entrepreneurship and innovation major Ari Morris took first place in the Social Venture track with his business, Youth Skate Movement.

The $100K Challenge Venture Competition provides students with opportunities to receive feedback from experts in the entrepreneurial community, win monetary prizes, and acquire legal services that will help advance their idea to the next stage. Finalists in the for-profit track will be eligible for an investment of up to $100,000 (half cash and half support services). The winner of the Social Venture track will be eligible for a $2,500 grant and $2,500 in professional services. Investment decisions will be made by the Launch Pad committee. Next year’s competition will be held Saturday, April 25, 2015.

For more information, contact Peter Rachor, Franz Center, at 7769 or rachor@up.edu.

$100K Challenge Venture Competition, April 26

April 21, 2014

The Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation is proud to announce the $100K Challenge Venture Competition on Saturday, April 26, in Shiley Hall room 301. This competition provides students with the opportunity to receive feedback from experts in the entrepreneurial community, win monetary prizes, and acquire legal services that will help advance an idea to the next stage in the entrepreneurial process. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend and watch student presentations. Preliminary rounds start at 9 a.m., lunch is noon to 1 p.m., and the finals round is 1 to 3 p.m. A reception and announcement of winners takes place from 3 t0 3:45 p.m.

Prizes include $1,250 for 1st place (for-profit & non-profit); $750 for 2nd place (for-profit) and $250 for 3rd place (for-profit). Sponsors include D&B, LivePlan, Lane Powell, Domain.com, AARP, Portland Business Journal, and the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN). For more information contact Peter Rachor, Franz Center, at 7769 or rachor@up.edu.