Pitches, Career Fair, Workshops Part of First Regnier Student Founders Summit
Are you a student with a passion for innovation? Are you dreaming of turning your ideas into impactful ventures? Look no further! The Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is hosting its first-ever Regnier Student Founders Summit on Friday, April 12, which includes seminars, keynotes, workshops, a career fair and the popular Regnier Venture Creation Challenge, a pitch competition.
The one-day, free event is open to the whole community and will bring together students, community members, professionals and mentors to foster a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem.
“We heard from our students and folks in the community who thought the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge was a really amazing event but wished that there was more. So that’s exactly what we made happen,” said Adam Larson, Program Manager for the Regnier Institute.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store:
Regnier Venture Creation Challenge
The 2024 Regnier Venture Creation Challenge, an annual business plan and pitch competition hosted by University of Missouri – Kansas City, will award up to $100,000 in funding to student entrepreneurs and Kansas City small business owners.
This year’s competition is broken down into three tracks: two for students and one for the Kansas City community.
Here are the finalists pitching at this year’s awards:
Regnier College Startup Awards
- Thayer Bray, Greenhouse Print Space
- Parker Owens, Parker’s Brick Builds
- Ga Ji Wang, Gah Yao
- Chase Dittmar, Dry Creek Beekeeping
- Lesly Romo, Golazo
- Bart Patenaude, Zuture
- Sudiksha Singhal, Brace Cap LLC
- Ashley McClellan, MedCurate
- Kaity Smith, Acne Girly
- Michael Schilling, OfficeGenie
- Nick Tehrani, LODE
- Eli James, RapidResale
Midwest Social Entrepreneurship Awards (Student)
- Bryce Wolff, Advoteck LLC
- Leah McIntyre, Paws & Pages
- Sebastian Lucas, Reuse for Life
- Teresa Sheffield, The Fount
- EmmaJean Roling, RefillerMe
- Jack Pitts, TrashTroopers
James & Rae Block Kansas City Startup Awards (Adult)
- Mark Lukenbill, Mpruv Sports
- Laura Owen, HealtyID
- Richard Dixson, Parentul
- Candice McField, As for Me and My Body
- Craig Mason, Raise Health
- Brandy Archie, AskSAMIE
- Bob Waddell, MD MatchUp
Keynotes and Workshops
Get ready to soak up wisdom from successful KC entrepreneurs. The summit keynote speakers and workshop leaders will dive deep into the nitty-gritty of launching and scaling early-stage companies. From crafting killer business plans to prioritizing mental health as a founder, you’ll walk away armed with the tools and knowledge to take your venture to new heights.
Sessions announced for this year’s summit include:
- The Art of Artificial Intelligence – JQ Sirls
- Maintaining Mental Health in Entrepreneurship – Cody Isabel
- Turning Fun into a Business – Joshua Lewis
- Design Challenge – Keith Kirkland
Mentor and Legal Advice for Founders
Do you have burning legal questions or are you seeking sage advice on navigating the startup landscape? The summit’s lineup of experienced mentors will be on-site to lend an ear and share their invaluable insights. From patents to partnerships, consider them your personal compass on the road to success.
Startup and Innovation Career Fair
Looking to kick-start your career with a company that’s all about innovation and entrepreneurship? Don’t miss the Innovation Career Fair, where you’ll have the chance to connect with top-notch recruiters from KC startups. Who knows? Your next job could be just a handshake away.
“We’ve invited some of the top startups in Kansas City to join us on campus and recruit upcoming graduates,” Larson says. “The idea for this was to get some companies in that aren’t normally at career fairs. We heard that students tend to see the same employers over and over again, so we did a little more digging and collaborated with the Bloch Career Center to make this happen.”
> > > Interested in learning more about job contributions by KC-area startups? Download KCSourceLink’s newest “We Create Jobs” report.
So, mark your calendars for April 12, and get ready to unleash your inner entrepreneur at the inaugural Regnier Student Founders Summit. Whether you’re a seasoned startup veteran or a student looking to get started on your entrepreneurial journey, there’s something here for everyone.
