WKU News

The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and the Gordon Ford College of Business will conduct its annual Business Plan Competition on Tuesday, March 3 at 4 p.m. in Grise Hall 240 on WKU’s main campus.

The WKU Business Plan Competition will see 12 student teams compete for more than $6,000 in prize money and the opportunity to further their business plans to Regional Competition in Owensboro at the end of March. Four student teams will represent WKU at the Idea State U Regional Competition. Regional winners will advance to the Idea State U competition in Lexington in April.

The groups will have 15 minutes to present their business ideas in front of business professionals. Judges include Don Greulich, an engineering entrepreneur from Louisville; Jim Martens, a real estate entrepreneur from Bowling Green; Kyle O’Donnell, a textiles entrepreneur from Bowling Green and former state winner of the Idea State U; Jeff Hook from WKU’s Center for Research Development; and Miller Slaughter from WKU’s Small Business Development Center.

“These students have dedicated many hours developing and writing their plans including attending workshops with business professionals,” said Dr. Dawn Bolton, Interim Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. “The WKU Business Plan Competition is a great way for entrepreneurial students to begin the process of getting their ideas in front of influential business leaders.”

Business proposal examples include app development, brick-and-mortar businesses, consulting enterprises, restaurants, and agricultural pursuits.

“The Gordon Ford College of Business has a long history of supporting entrepreneurial-minded students,” said Dr. Jeffrey Katz, Dean of the College. “I am excited to see what new ideas will come out of this year’s WKU Business Plan Competition.”