Students Stretch Entrepreneurial Muscles at 3-Day Innovation Competition

Nov. 10–12, 2017

Published:
November 03, 2017

Pioneer Weekend 4.0, Nov. 10–12, 2017, is a three-day innovation competition for college students sponsored by the Donald and Winifred Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership.

In a free, public event beginning at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 12, teams will present their prototypes and receive valuable feedback from a panel of experts. The prize ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. There will be a lunch break from 12:30 to 1 p.m.

The event brings together student innovators from different backgrounds to work together in teams of 3-6 people and complete a prototype of an idea that they come up with at the event. It encourages hands-on experiences, and aspiring student entrepreneurs can find out if their startup ideas might be viable.

Beginning with open mic pitches on Friday, students will bring their best ideas and inspire others to join their team. Over Saturday and Sunday, teams will focus on customer development, validating their ideas, practicing Lean Startup methodologies, and building a minimal viable product.

Winning teams will receive cash prizes:

  • 1st place: $2000
  • 2nd place: $1000
  • 3rd place: $500

The first place team will also receive a scholarship to go to Venture School at the University of Iowa for summer 2018.

See the Pioneer Weekend schedule for details.

College students who wish to participate need to register by Nov. 8.

Grinnell College welcomes the participation of people with disabilities. Accommodation requests may be made to Conference Operations.
The College welcomes the presence of minors at all age-appropriate public events and for informal visits, with the understanding that a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult assumes full responsibility for their child’s safety and behavior during such visits or events. In these cases the College expects that an adult responsible for the visiting child takes measures to ensure the child’s safety and sees that the child complies with directions of College personnel. Grinnell College is not responsible for supervision of minors on campus.
This venue is equipped with an induction hearing loop system, which enables individuals with hearing aids set to T-Coil to hear the program.
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