UMKC joins campus network’s student Entrepreneur Quest accelerator competition
March 19, 2019 | Austin Barnes
A final showdown of student startups has been set, as budding entrepreneurs from across the University of Missouri campus network compete for financial support.
“It brings a lot of those best practices together from all four campuses and really showcases all the great work that’s going on in the system to promote entrepreneurship,” said Andy Heise, assistant director of the UMKC Bloch School’s Regnier Institute.
With anticipation mounting, a pitch competition is set for April 5 in Columbia, Missouri, where 12 finalists will compete for a $15,000 grand prize –– the final round of activity for the University of Missouri system’s new student accelerator program, Entrepreneur Quest (EQ).
Formally launched in October, EQ accepted 50 applicants from each of the four UM campuses –– University of Missouri, UMKC, UMSL, and Missouri S&T.
A second round demo day saw 10 finalists from the schools compete earlier this month, where another $15,000 prize was awarded.
Click here to learn more about the EQ process.
“[Through EQ and other UMKC programs] we really try to get [students] ready to engage in all of those other community, entrepreneur support organizations and the goal is that we can keep them here,” Heise said of the way the school is actively working to churn the startup talent pool in Kansas City.
A first for the university system, the EQ accelerator enables students to work on the in-depth development of their companies as opposed to other pitch competitions and programs on individual campuses, Heise said.
“[University president] Mun Choi, brought this model with him from his previous institution in Connecticut to try to spur innovation and entrepreneurship across all four campuses and for the state of Missouri,” Heise explained.
Such an effort has been met with success so far, he added.
Through the inaugural competition, EQ has welcomed student entrepreneurs with diverse endeavors –– with startups required to be original ideas and not just takes on traditional or existing business models –– a result of the decision to offer the program system-wide and beyond UMKC and the Bloch School of business, Heise said.
“Everything from, you know, social welfare, health, family support systems, all the way to an inflight tool for a new technology that’s being mandated in 2020 –– it’s just a broad range of ventures,” he said.
Click here to get tickets to the EQ pitch competition.
Featured Business
2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Designed by a language of love, ‘my clothing is my ministry,’ says Esmeralda Lole
Kyrie Eleison Couture creates custom pieces that incorporate the customer’s cultural influences, said Esmeralda Lole. Lole works closely with individual customers and draws colors from flags and patterns from their countries of origin, she said. “Everyone has a different love language and my love language is acts of service. So for me, to be able…
Scoops and fruit loops: Quirky collaboration melds Crumble candles, Betty Rae’s Ice Cream
Brandon Love hungered for a Kansas City brand as unconventional as his own high-growth aroma confectionery, Crumble Co. He found his match at Betty Rae’s. “I started trying to pick apart [potential partners] to see who would be the best fit,” said Love, Crumble Co.’s founder and “head fruit loop in charge.” “Our way’s really…
Bridge Space opens doors to creativity, collaboration in Lee’s Summit (Photos)
Set against the historic backdrop of the former Lee’s Summit post office, the past and present intentionally collide to create Bridge Space — a 13,000-square-foot coworking space that elevates entrepreneurs in the city’s bustling downtown business district, said Ben Rao. “I’m in the hospitality business. It’s about this experience that people have. We’re not just…
Fountain City FinTech first cohort named; could draw coastal, international companies to KC
A half-dozen companies from outside Kansas City earned spots among the first cohort of Fountain City FinTech, said Zach Pettet, hopeful the metro could attract the firms to stay or build long-term partnerships. “There’s a good chance that a number of firms will be putting down roots and creating jobs in Kansas City. We don’t…