(Ashland, Oregon.) – The University of the South Oregon will bring together students’ innovation and the energy of the audience live during the final competition and the corporate tournament gala in 2025 – with more than $ 4,000 in prices and one entrepreneurial advance.
The free event – From 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday May 27, in the Stevenson Union room – is open to all students, teachers, staff and members of the community. It will include additional food, door prices and engaging presentations led by students judged by local professionals and campus chiefs.
This year’s final competition includes four dedicated student finalist teams, selected from a competitive entrance pool. Each team works to complete its end deliverables and will present its entrepreneurial concepts to have a chance to earn $ 3,000 for first place and $ 700 for the second, with a sustainability bonus of $ 250 for the company which best integrates the environmental, social and economic impact.
A new wrinkle this year is the pitch competition that the Joker, which welcomes any student who attends the event to share a one -minute land on site, without any required prior entry. The competition is intended to arouse creativity among students of all majors and experience levels with a low pressure and high energy opportunity to share entrepreneurial ideas. A winning idea – chosen by a mixture of audience and judge voting – will receive a cash prize of $ 200 and all participants in the Joker will be encouraged to further develop their arguments in full bids for next year’s competition.
“It is a question of opening doors, of not raising bars,” said Douglas Daley, coordinator of the MBA program and director of the Business Venture tournament. “Whether the students arrive with a polished plan or simply a spark of curiosity, we want the gala to be a space where ideas come to life – and new voices feel invited.”
The tournament was founded by the vision and generosity of the alumni of Sou Jim Teece and Dena Matthews, who launched the initiative last year to help students “think big” and to present ideas with the power to create a real change.
This year’s competition and final gala will also include a fairground fair and networking area. The graduate trainee Jenny Chynoweth and the community partners have aligned more than a dozen organizations and local businesses to connect with students, offer information and present real opportunities. Students and guests can explore innovative commercial enterprises, connect with professionals and establish relationships that could lead to mentoring, internships or even future collaborations.
The event is made possible by the generous support of the Jim Teece and Dena Matthews Foundation; Support the Soredi, Valley immediate Care and Shepherd’s Dream sponsors; And gift donors, including Britt Music & Arts Festival, Dancin Winery, Talent Maker City and IA for Good Conference.
The Final Round event will include additional table hosts, including the Southern Oregon Innovation Hub, Business Oregon, Mentors, Sou Small Business Development Center, Jackson County Library Services, Jefferson Public Radio, Rogue Valley Times, Kmvu-TV, Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, Ashland Food Co-OP and the Sou School of Business and Institute of Applied Sustainability.
For more information, visit Venture.sou.edu.
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