The Institute for Entrepreneurship in the Colorado State University College of Business celebrates the best and the brightest student entrepreneurs at the Venture Accelerator Showcase, Dec. 11, 4-7 p.m. at the Powerhouse Energy Campus, 430 N. College Ave., in Fort Collins.
The event will feature pitches from the dozen student-founded companies that have been part of this semester’s Venture Accelerator program. The innovative businesses range from a rear-suspension system for manual wheelchairs to a bike helmet made from environmentally friendly materials and a system that uses game techniques to improve workplace management. The student entrepreneurs come from all over campus, majoring in computer science, engineering, liberal arts, economics, molecular biology and business.
“I have been so impressed with not only the innovative ideas the students have brought to the program, but the professional manner they bring to their interactions with their mentors, advisers and coaches who are helping them to make their companies into viable business entities,” said Christine Chin, director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship. “This has been an amazing 16-week journey for everyone.”
The Showcase will also provide an opportunity to recognize those mentors, advisors and coaches, working professionals from the Northern Colorado business community who have volunteered their time and talents to guide the student entrepreneurs along their startup path.
Next semester, the student teams will move into the Start-Up Springboard, the second phase of the Venture Accelerator. At the end of spring semester, a small number of teams will be offered the opportunity to spend a year in The Hatchery at the Innosphere getting their businesses market-ready.
The Venture Accelerator Showcase is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please RSVP by Dec. 8 at http://transition.biz.colostate.edu/rsvp/2014Venture.aspx.
Email questions to IEinfo@business.colostate.edu.
