Fairfield University undergraduates to compete in finals of 1st annual university-wide student business plan competition

Fairfield University undergraduates to compete in finals of 1st annual university-wide student business plan competition

Image: Dolan School of Business What : Be there when four student finalists in the Fairfield University Inaugural Business Plan Competition make their final "pitches" to a judging panel of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and business executives. After viewing the pitches, the judges will deliberate and then announce the final winner, with the presentation of prize money (up to $12,000) to the winning team or teams to help fund their business. Thirteen teams featuring students from a range of University majors have taken part. Four will compete in the finals. Finalists' ideas for new businesses in contention include a web-based trading platform game geared to undergraduates and nonprofessionals to trade fictitiously using real-time data, fundamental data, and market news. Another finalist is proposing a premier construction management, operation and maintenance firm that manages the full range of activities necessary to keep a complex multidisciplinary project - often worth billions of dollars - firmly on track.

When : Tuesday, April 10, 5 p.m.

Where : Dolan School of Business Dining Room, on the Fairfield campus

Why : The competition builds on an initiative in the Dolan School of Business 's Department of Management to develop students' capacity in entrepreneurship, including new courses, a concentration within management, an entrepreneur-in-residence program, and an entrepreneurship minor. These efforts came in the wake of the University learning that an increasing number of students harbor ambitions to become entrepreneurs.

"We have definitely been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the plans submitted," said Dr. Chris L. Huntley, associate professor of Information Systems & Operations. "The teams worked very hard and the work shows ... As you'll see in the finals, the students are very advanced in both their thinking and the professionalism of their presentations."

Posted On: 04-05-2012 11:04 AM

Volume: 44 Number: 255