Registration for the 2024-25 Utah Entrepreneur Challenge is now open. All college students in Utah from participating colleges and universities are welcome to enter this statewide business-model competition. Teams are competing for $75,000 in cash and prizes this year. The registration deadline is Feb. 20, 2025.
The Utah Entrepreneur Challenge is managed by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute — a top-10 ranked, interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah — and sponsored by Zions Bank.
The top 20 teams in the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge will be announced on March 3, 2025. These teams advance to compete in the remaining phases of the competition, which include creating a two-minute video, public voting, judging and a final event on March 22, 2025. Find more dates and deadlines below.
To participate, students can visit the competition website to apply, register for online info sessions and view the competition guide.
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute also hosts a related competition for high school students. The High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge is open to all students in Utah ages 14-18. Teams are competing this year for $30,000 in cash and prizes.
Learn more about the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge at lassonde.utah.edu/uec.
2024-2025 UEC Competition Timeline
- Application Opens: Sept. 10, 2024
- Online Information Sessions: Sept. 5, 2024, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; Oct. 3, 2024, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; Nov. 7, 2024, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; Dec. 5, 2024, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; Jan. 2, 2025, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; Feb. 6, 2025, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Application Deadline: Feb. 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
- Online Judging (U. of Utah): Feb. 22-March 1, 2025
- Top 20 Announced: March 3, 2025, 5 p.m.
- Top 20 Video Submission Deadline: March 5, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
- Public Top 20 Video Voting: March 6-21, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
- Competition Final Event: March 22, 2025, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
About the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is a nationally ranked hub for student entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Utah and an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business. The first programs were offered in 2001, through the vision and support of Pierre Lassonde, an alumnus of the Eccles School and successful mining entrepreneur. The institute now provides opportunities for thousands of students to learn about entrepreneurship and innovation. Programs include workshops, networking events, business-plan competitions, startup support, innovation programs, graduate and alumni programs, scholarships, community outreach and more. All programs are open to students from any academic major or background. The Lassonde Institute also manages Lassonde Studios, a five-story innovation space and housing facility for all students. Learn more at lassonde.utah.edu.
