UA Josh Hottenstein presenting at Verdant Earth's booth during 2009 Innovation Day.
The McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the Eller College of Management will host its 25th annual new venture competition and celebration, culminating a stellar year for the top-ranked program.
During the event, which will be held on Friday, the entrepreneurial achievements of business leaders and academic innovators also will be recognized.
"Entrepreneurial thinking is the cornerstone of a vibrant economy," said Sherry Hoskinson, director of the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship.
"At the McGuire Center, we work hard to advance innovation, and every spring since 1985 we have come together as a community of students, mentors and business leaders to celebrate the year's progress," Hoskinson said.
The showcase will be held 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the UA's McClelland Hall, 1130 East Helen St.
The schedule of events include the "Rocket Pitch," where 21 teams will present three-minute pitches to angel investors, a venture pitch from the finalist and another awards ceremony with a reception.
The showcase is sponsored by Grubb & Ellis, and all events are free and open to the public. To register to attend the reception, send an e-mail to entre.rsvp@arizona.edu or call 520-621-2576.
The annual event is also an opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of community members, alumni, business leaders and collegiate innovators.
The award ceremony following the judging panel deliberations at the end of the day will feature the 2009 award recipients. They are:
Business/Law Exchange Award: Paul Portney, dean of the UA Eller College of Management and Toni Massaro, dean of the UA James E. Rogers College of Law
2009 Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Inductees: Greg Coxon, Grubb & Ellis and Marie Wesselhoft, director of the Arizona Center for Innovation
2009 Entrepreneurial Fellows: Charles and Candice Nelson, Co-founders of Sprinkles Cupcakes
2009 Technology Transfer Fellow: Stephen O'Neil, UA Office of Technology Transfer
Entrepreneurial Promise Award: Mark and Jacques Cook, Coronado Vineyards
Also, students will vie for top honors in a new competition.
This year's 21 McGuire Center student venture teams will compete for top honors, starting with public rocket pitch presentations. The judging panel will invite the top-performing teams to come back and deliver complete presentations.
This year's ventures, like past years, encompass a range of business concepts and technologies. Examples include:
All student teams in the McGuire Entrepreneurship Program develop their ventures using The Idea Path, a method that mirrors the real-world entrepreneurial process.
"Students are challenged to identify a problem and craft a unique, market-driven solution to address that problem," said Hoskinson. "Everything comes together during the final presentations – it's a very exciting time for everyone – the students, their mentors, and the community."
Liz Warren-Pederson
520-626-9547