What's Your Big Idea? Challenge

Have an innovative idea? Have an idea that will solve a problem that you have identified?

Penn State Shenango, through its VenturePointe Incubator at the eCenter @ LindenPointe, is holding its inaugural “What’s Your Big Idea?” Challenge and would like to invite all Shenango campus students to participate.

If your idea is chosen, you could receive up to $500 towards your new start-up, as well as personal mentoring through the campus’s VenturePointe incubator, the eCenter @ LindentPointe, and the Penn State Initiative project.

Who’s eligible to participate in this first round? All Penn State Shenango students, faculty, and staff.

Your idea can be: a New Product or Service or an Improved Product or Service. It can be a For Profit Business or a Not for Profit Agency or Organization. It can be Research Oriented or a Community Engagement Initiative.

How do I submit an idea? (Phase I) Complete the Contest Form available in the Student Affairs office located in Sharon Hall room 103 and on the VenturePointe board in the Great Hall. Return your completed form to the Student Affairs office by February 1, 2019.

What happens after submission? The VenturePointe committee will review all submissions and select five winners who will move on to Phase II. (Depending on the number of submissions this number may fluctuate.)

Why Participate?

It will look good on your resume and will make great conversation during an interview.
It will develop your communication and presentation skills.
It will ignite your entrepreneurial mindset to help you advance in your career.

What do Phase I winners receive?

Personal assistance to perfect your “pitch.”
An opportunity to pitch your Big Idea in the Great Hall and become the first winner of the
Penn State Shenango “Big Idea Challenge.”**
A chance to attend a four week Idea Test Lab at VenturePointe to see if your idea is viable.

Contestant’s pitch and this contest will emulate the popular CNBC broadcast, “Shark Tank.”

If you are chosen as this year’s “Big Idea Challenge” winner, you will also have the opportunity, if you choose, to advance your idea and be eligible to:

Compete in various other Penn State University wide Pitch Contests which offer Big Prizes.
Receive personal entrepreneurship mentoring while you work towards making your Big Idea pitch a reality by incubating at the Penn State Shenango VenturePointe suite.
Join the VenturePointe accelerator program to refine your idea and receive $500 to advance your new start-up.