Schulze School of Entrepreneurship

Schulze School of Entrepreneurship

The Fowler Business Concept Challenge – Develop Your Idea

Finalists for the 4th Annual Fowler Business Concept Challenge have been announced!


Focused on energizing the entrepreneurial spirit of UST students across campuses and colleges, the Fowler challenges students to develop a business concept that has the potential to become a viable, high-growth business. The teams that submit the winning business concept in each of two divisions (undergraduate and graduate) receive $10,000 scholarships from the University of St. Thomas.

The Fowler Business Concept Challenge is named in recognition of Ron Fowler ’66, chairman and CEO of Liquid Investments Inc., whose generous gift to the university has made this and future competitions possible.

The Fowler Business Concept Challenge is held during the month of October. It is open to all UST students registered for the fall semester, including undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students.

Visit facebook.com/USTFowler for more information! If you have any questions, email fowler@stthomas.edu.


2012 Finalists
Fowler on Facebook
Past Winners
 
 

Dates & Deadlines

September 19, 5-6 p.m.
Information Session

September 20, 12-1 p.m.
Information Session 

October 4, 6 p.m.-12 a.m.
Hackathon
Minneapolis, Schulze Hall, Room 335 

Deadline: October 5, 5 p.m.
Submit Application & Request Team ID from fowler@stthomas.edu

Deadline: October 5, 11:59 p.m.
Submit Initial Business Concept to fowler@stthomas.edu

October 9, 5 p.m.
Semifinalists Announced

October 10, 5-6 p.m.
Semifinalist Reception 

Deadline: October 18, 8 p.m.
Semifinalist Submissions Due

October 19, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Semifinalist Presentations/Judging

October 19, afternoon
Final Judging & Announcement of Winners

See schedule details »

   

About the Fowler

Mission
Encouraging students to act on their ideas and to develop an attractive business proposal that they can confidently pitch to investors.

The Basics
An individual or team develops a concept for a new business and submits that concept to the challenge. A panel of judges will review the initial submissions and choose semifinalists for the undergraduate and graduate divisions. Semifinalists will then prepare 20-minute presentations of their concepts to present to a distinguished panel of judges drawn from the entrepreneurial, business and investment communities. The teams presenting the best business concepts will be awarded scholarships.

$10,000 scholarship to first place in each division.
$5,000 scholarship to runner-up in each division.
$2,500 scholarship to second runner-up in each division.

All applications must be emailed to fowler@stthomas.edu by 11:59 p.m., October 5, 2012.

View a slideshow about this year's Fowler »

Learn more about the Fowler and its sponsor »

   

Connect with the Fowler

Interested in participating? Looking for a partner or team to work with on developing a business concept?

St. Thomas students are invited to use the UST Fowler Facebook Page to find partners and teams and to stay in touch once the competition is underway.

To join the conversation, “Like” the Fowler Facebook Page, follow @USTFowler on Twitter, watch the humorous videos on Vimeo and download the podcasts on iTunes. This is a great way to stay informed about the competition, including key dates and deadlines, updates on entrants and important news.

Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on Vimeo
Listen to iTunes Podcasts