UTSA students compete for $100K in prizes in technology venture competition

By Claire Jenkins
Public Affairs Specialist

(April 27, 2012) -- UTSA business and engineering students will compete for $100,000 in prizes at San Antonio's largest business planning competition, the UTSA $100K Student Technology Venture Competition from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 28 in the Business Building Richard S. Liu Auditorium (2.01.02) at the UTSA Main Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Public viewing of technologies is scheduled for the morning and venture pitches will be from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

The biannual competition, hosted by the UTSA Center for Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship (CITE), promotes student entrepreneurship by pairing engineering students who create new technologies with business students who create business plans to market those technologies through a viable start-up.

Nine teams of UTSA business and engineering students are competing in this year's contest. Their companies represent a variety of new technologies including medical devices, electronic management of devices in the home, energy savers, construction and software. The teams will be judged by local academics, business and entrepreneurial experts based on their business plans, new technology and the team presentation. At the close of the daylong competition, some of the winning teams will have the opportunity to start their companies and sell their technologies.

"Since its inception, the UTSA CITE remains focused on coordinating resources in support of early venture creation within the university or in collaboration with local companies," said Cory Hallam, CITE director. "Our competition is a culmination of these efforts as we witness our students execute their visions into feasible business ventures."

The founding sponsor of the competition is the Texas Research Technology Foundation. New and continuing sponsors include Cox Smith Attorneys, Harvard Business School Club of San Antonio, San Antonio Technology Center, UTSA College of Business, UTSA College of Engineering and UTSA Office of the Vice President for Research.

CITE is an interdisciplinary center in the UTSA College of Business and the College of Engineering. The center focuses on fostering the growth of entrepreneurs and new technology-based ventures through a process of education, experiences, resources and support.

Events

Friday, May 3, 11:30 a.m.

McNair Scholars' Spring Celebration

This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.

North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main Campus

Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.

Doctoral Conferral Ceremony

At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.

Arts Building Recital Hall, Main Campus

Thursday, May 16, 3:00 p.m.

Roadrunner Walk

Roadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.

Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Friday, May 17, 10:00 a.m.

Commencement: Ceremony One

Celebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

Friday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.

Commencement: Ceremony Two

Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

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