ACU’s chapter of Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization is busy making plans for what will be the biggest-ever Startup Week, set to take place in mid-November. Last fall, CEO brought home the title of best CEO chapter in the nation at the national conference after hosting Startup Week, packed with 100 events. This fall, CEO aims to host 120 events in an effort to outpace their competitor, Penn State University’s CEO chapter, which held 112 events.
The events during Startup Week will showcase all things business-related for students, alumni and members of the Abilene business community.
Georgi Hannah, president of CEO and senior accounting major from Kansas City, Kansas, said the events of the week aren’t just for business students.
“We want this event to be for anybody in any major who want to run a business,” Hannah said.
Startup Week begins on Nov. 14 and will run through Nov. 18. Each day starts up with a breakfast at the Griggs Center, and after that, events and speakers are featured throughout the campus.
Three of signature Startup Week events will be held on Nov. 14 – a special keynote guest at Chapel, the Elevator Pitch competition and a networking dinner for CEO members. The keynote speaker has yet to be announced by the Startup Week team.
At the dinner, CEO members get the chance to have dinner with an entrepreneur of their choice. Guest entrepreneurs and alumni will be serving as table hosts and have the ability to share more experience and advice with the young entrepreneurs.
Any students with a business idea can enter the Springboard Elevator Pitch competition, where they can pitch business ideas for a cash prize. Throughout the week, students can attend all sorts of events, from small group meetings to resume building sessions.
Meredith Orr, student director of Startup Week and sophomore management major from North Richland Hills, continues to plan out the week and invite guests to the opening day of Startup Week, when the Elevator Pitch Competition will take place.
“It is a great opportunity for students to pitch ideas and earn money for a wining pitch,” Orr said.
Both Hannah and Orr said that this week in November is such a great week to help students learn more about the world of business.
For a rough schedule, visit http://blogs.acu.edu/startupweek/.
