Conductor to Host National Collegiate Venture Competition, Announces $15,000 in Available Prize Money

The Conductor, a public-private partnership with the University of Central Arkansas, today announced plans to host a National Collegiate Venture Competition, a competition that celebrates successful student entrepreneurs from college campuses around the United States. College students and recent college graduates with operating ventures are permitted to apply to the competition for a chance to win $15,000 in cash prizes.

“The National Collegiate Venture Competition creates a platform to celebrate successful student ventures, ‘dorm room founders’ and collegiate change agents,” said Kim Lane, COO of the Conductor. “This competition falls squarely within the Conductor’s mission to reduce barriers to entry for entrepreneurs, and to propel the success of student entrepreneurs.”

Unlike traditional business plan competitions, the National Collegiate Venture Competition is limited to operating ventures with actual clients and recurring revenue. To apply, companies must complete an application, submit a 60-second video and lean canvas, and have a faculty sponsor from their college or university. There is no fee to apply.

“The work of the Conductor with university faculty and students, as well as the community, has been a differentiator to other entrepreneurial support organizations, and that work has been recognized by entrepreneurs all over the world,” said Jeff Standridge, Chief Catalyst of the Conductor. “The National Collegiate Venture Competition is a normal next evolution in the Conductor’s role.”

A judging panel of well-known venture capitalists and entrepreneurial icons will review the submissions for the competition and will award the first-place prize of $10,000, and a second-place prize of $5,000.

“This is an amazing opportunity to catalyze a network of student entrepreneurs,” said UCA President Houston Davis. “UCA is proud to be at the center of this type of national competition.”

The application period will open on January 26, and the deadline to apply is March 5. The Conductor will announce the winners on March 28.

To apply, students may visit https://goo.gl/forms/KugKADKGQSu3Y4r53. Additional information about the competition is available at www.arconductor.org/venturecomp.