Many students hold onto amazing ideas because they lack funding. Ideas can be anything from social movements to devices that make life easier. But lack of funding is no longer a reason to stop developing your ideas. The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute helps you innovate by providing many funding opportunities. All students are welcome to participate. Here are the top funding programs and opportunities for students at the University of Utah:
The Utah Entrepreneur Challenge
Teams from universities compete in a statewide, business plan competition. Students compete to win a $40,000 grand prize. Participating teams receive mentorship from community experts and are judged by industry professionals.
2017-18 dates: Application opens Nov. 24, 2017.
Website: lassonde.utah.edu/uec
High School Entrepreneur Challenge
Teams or individual high school students, ages 14-18, come together for a business-idea competition. This program gives out $20,000 in scholarships and cash prizes.
2017-18 dates: Application opens Sept. 22, 2017. HSUEC is also hosting a kickoff event of Sept. 22, 2017, and registration for that is open now on the Lassonde website.
Website: lassonde.utah.edu/hsuec
Get Seeded
A monthly milestone funding program. Each month concludes with a fun presentation to your peers, where the audience decides if your idea gets funded. Get Seeded has a three-step application. First, students apply online. Then, selected teams present their 3-minute pitch at a Pitch Screening and Selection event. Finally, selected teams get the opportunity to present to their pitch at a Get Seeded funding event, and the audience decides if they get funded.
2017-18 dates: Monthly application cycle starting in August 2017.
Website: lassonde.utah.edu/getseeded
Opportunity Quest
An executive summary competition, judged by industry experts on the quality of their submission. Winning teams receive cash and in-kind prizes and advance to the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, where the students develop a full business plan.
2017-18 dates: Application opens Sept. 15, 2017.
Website: lassonde.utah.edu/oq
Bench to Beside
A competition designed to bring engineering, medical and business students together to innovate new medical devices. These student teams compete to win cash prizes.
2017-18 dates: Kick-Off Event held on Sep. 22, 2017.
Website: healthsciences.utah.edu/center-for-medical-innovation/bench-2-bedside.
Games 4 Health
A program designed for all students to develop a health-related video game or phone app to compete for cash prizes.
2017-18 dates: TBD.
Website: g4hutah.com
The Lassonde Institute offers many opportunities for students to explore entrepreneurship and innovation in a fun and safe learning environment. Lassonde welcomes students to come participate in any way they want – compete, watch or volunteer. This is a place for students to find what works for them, and we encourage students to develop their ideas.
Learn more about all the Lassonde Institute programs at lassonde.utah.edu/programs.
