The University of Wyoming College of Business has a robust entrepreneurship program which includes courses offered to all UW students, a minor and a major degree in entrepreneurship. In addition to courses offered, we host an annual entrepreneurship summit each year alongside an entrepreneurship competition with cash prizes totalling $50,000. It is our goal through this program to "activate" as many young entrepreneurs we can through education about best practices, resources provided to help them succeed, and mentorship to show them what is possible.
In this course, participants will develop a plan for starting a new business idea or growing an existing business. Participants will examine how their own leadership style and behaviors influence success. Participants will construct financial models and develop plans that include identifying customer needs, examining competition, creating financial forecasts, marketing, and a simplified business plan.
At the conclusion of this course, participants should be able to quickly and clearly articulate the core concepts of their business (what problem do you solve, who is your core customer, how will you make money).
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Competition opens: Wednesday, September 23rd 2020, at 12:01am MST
Competition closes: Monday, October 26rd 2020, at 5:00pm MST
The John P. Ellbogen $50K Entrepreneurship Competition at the University of Wyoming
(UW) is designed to encourage college students across the State of Wyoming to act
on their talents, ideas, and energy to produce tomorrow's leading businesses. The
$50K Competition awards cash prizes to outstanding teams of student entrepreneurs
who submit their business plans for new ventures showing significant business potential.
The competition encourages teams to compete by providing business consulting expertise,
C-level mentorship, financial mentorship, and a strong entrepreneurial network of
investors and potential partners.
Students from all community colleges and in all disciplines at UW at the undergraduate
and graduate levels are welcome to enter the competition. Multi-disciplinary teams
that combine members from many disciplines are encouraged, as these teams bring together
the variety of skills required for a successful venture.
Want to learn more? Download the $50K Information Session Video
Four finalists will share a total of $65,000 in prize money after being selected as
winners of the University of Wyoming College of Business 2020 John P. Ellbogen $50K
Entrepreneurship Competition, which took place virtually May 8-9.
The grand prize winner, Resono Pressure Systems, was awarded $30,000. Team members
are Pourya Nikoueeyan, a doctoral student from Laramie, and Jonathan Naughton, a professor
of mechanical engineering at UW. The company was founded to commercialize an innovative
unsteady pressure measurement system for advanced aerospace and wind energy applications.
Read the full story.
CellDrop was one of four finalists in the 2020 Virtual UW John P. Ellbogen $50K Entrepreneurship Competition. Team members are Benjamin Noren, Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering with graduate minor in gender and women’s studies, from Ironwood, MI; and John Oakey, professor of chemical engineering at UW. CellDrop uses a patented cell delivery process to quickly and permanently regenerate tissue by encasing Mesenchymal stem cells in microscopic hydrogel droplets (cells in tiny gel marbles).
CellDrop
CellDrop uses a patented cell delivery process to quickly and permanently regenerate tissue by encasing Mesenchymal stem cells in microscopic hydrogel droplets (cells in tiny gel marbles). Team members are Benjamin Noren, left, Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering with graduate minor in gender and women’s studies, from Ironwood, MI; and John Oakey, professor of chemical engineering at UW.
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Resono
Resono Pressure Systems, Inc, was founded to commercialize an innovative unsteady pressure measurement system for advanced aerospace and wind energy applications. Team members are Johnathan Naughton, professor of mechanical engineering at UW, from Laramie, left, and Pourya Nikoueeyan, Ph. D student, from Laramie.
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Build Mothers Build the World
The mission at Build Mothers Build the World is to empower Wyoming women through access to post-secondary education, break the cycle of poverty in our families, and promote economic development across Wyoming through career placement and development. Team members are Abby Lozano, first image left, of the University of Wyoming’s International Students Office, from Torrington; Kyrie Blaney, a senior majoring in marketing, from Evanston; Dilnoza Khasilova, a graduate studies in education student, from Russia and Uzbekistan; ; and Carole Boughton, right image, of the Wyoming Montana Safety Council, from Cheyenne.
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Landseer
Landseer is producing next-generation lithium battery anodes, with potential to double the energy density of current lithium batteries, via a novel production process with unique cost and environmental advantages. Team members are Kurt Stahlfeld, left, a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering, from Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Erica Belmont, a UW assistant professor in mechanical engineering.
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EvolvED
EvolvED is a next-generation learning management system that will use advanced algorithms to provide individualized learning plans to students. EvolvED will increase the number of students meeting curricula standards across the state and the country. Team members are Brett Ralston,left, a graduate student in physiology, from Encampment; Chris Larsen, a Laramie County Community College student majoring in computer science, from Jackson Hole; and Samuel Riggs, a Laramie County Community College senior majoring in accounting, from Laramie.
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Nexus Reliability
Nexus Reliability is working to revolutionize how heavy industry uses current remote sensing technologies and big data. The Nexus Connect platform not only saves time and money, but also keeps maintainers and operators safe by preventing catastrophic failures before they occur. Team members are Fritz Ogden, left, a senior majoring in chemical engineering, from Laramie; Steve Bagley, a financial controller and data scientist for NexRel; and Chas Ogden, a mechanical engineer and technical developer for NexRel.
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Step-Up Strategies
Step-Up Strategies aims to be the solution that allows political campaigns and candidates to connect with their most important constituents by providing highly targeted messaging for state and local races in rural communities. Team members are Ashley Hyche, left, a senior majoring in agriculture communications, from Wheatland; and Ty Shockley, an accountant in Billings, Mont., and a UW graduate from Wheatland.
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