Entrepreneurs’ Organization Arizona (EO) announced its partnership with Arizona State University’s (ASU) Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The partnership consists of a series of four pitch competitions for student entrepreneurs, held during ASU Launch Days on each of ASU’s four campuses.
The winner of each competition will receive $3,000 in seed funding from ASU, acceptance into the ASU Launch Pad student incubator program and invaluable mentorship from prominent Arizona business executives. EO Arizona, an exclusive group of successful business owners, will donate their time and expertise as competition judges and ongoing program mentors.
“We are grateful to have generous partners like EO Arizona helping us to heighten the focus on entrepreneurship at ASU,” said Garret Westlake, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Student Entrepreneurship at Arizona State University. “By dedicating their time as judges and mentors, EO has become an integral part of our program. Support and guidance from successful business owners is priceless to students as they navigate the transition from the startup concept phase to a fully developed business.”
The ASU Launch Day series kicked off on February 5 on ASU’s Tempe campus. During the first pitch competition sponsored by EO Arizona, a panel of judges from both EO and ASU narrowed a field of 37 student startup teams down to one winner, a networking startup called Feel Free that promotes face-to-face interactions within local communities.
Following the overwhelming success of the first event, ASU hosted a second Launch Day competition on February 23 at the University’s Downtown campus in conjunction with Phoenix Startup Week 2015. The Open Pitch during ASU Launch Day Downtown also involved student teams pitching their ideas in front of a panel of judges from EO and ASU. The competition was narrowed from 20 teams to one winner, 3dCycler LLC, which works to make 3D printing more sustainable, affordable and accessible.
Two additional Launch Day competitions are scheduled for March 19 and April 8 at the ASU West and Polytechnic campuses, respectively. EO members will continue to serve on the panel of judges and contribute their time as mentors to the competition winners.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to support and nurture young minds throughout their entrepreneurial journey,” said Oliver Keller, EO Arizona Global and Community Outreach Chair. “Our focus is not only to share entrepreneurial best practices, but to keep young entrepreneurs in Arizona to support the expanding entrepreneurial landscape in our own backyard.”
