UB Seeks Participants for First Annual Technology Entrepreneur Competition

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership in the University at Buffalo School of Management and the UB Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach are seeking students and recent alumni to participate in the inaugural Technology Entrepreneur Competition.

The purpose of the competition is to facilitate and promote the commercialization of UB-generated technologies. It also is designed to provide a mechanism for bringing students from different disciplines together with students from the School of Management to maximize their business and scientific potential.

UB students and recent alumni with innovative ideas in the areas of physical and life-science technologies, as well as those with innovative business concepts using proprietary technologies in other areas, such as service industries, are invited to participate.

The prize package of more than $50,000 includes $25,000 in seed funding, one year of office space and one year of accounting, marketing, advertising and legal services.

Interested students and alumni who have graduated within the past two years are encouraged to attend an open house from 4-5 p.m. on Feb. 11 in the Center for Tomorrow on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. The open house is designed allow students from different disciplines to meet and form their teams. Technical and scientific students are asked to come prepared with information regarding their commercially viable technology. Display materials may include posters, concept papers, prototypes, samples or other materials that demonstrate the technology. Teams should be comprised of individuals involved in the science of the innovation, as well as individuals with a business background. Register to attend the open house by sending an email to mgt-cel@buffalo.edu. Include names of all team members attending and indicate whether or not the team is looking for additional members.

Applications to participate in the competition are due on Feb. 27, and teams will be assigned mentors during the week of March 1. Each team will be required to submit a business plan by April 16. Judges will review the business plans and name up to five finalists on April 30. Each team in the finals will be required to give a presentation before a panel of judges on May 7. The winner will be announced that day, shortly after the final presentation.

Sponsoring the event are North Forest Development, LLC, Hahn & Associates, LLC, Jaeckle, Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP, Fiddler & Co., and Flynn & Friends.

Application materials and information about the competition can be accessed online at http://www.mgt.buffalo.edu/ced/cel/tec.shtm or by calling the UB Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at 645-3000.