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Washington State University Entrepreneurship

Jones Milestone Accelerator


Jones Milestone Accelerator

Congratulations to the Summer 2024 Teams

  1. Helical Solutions, LLC: Introducing a compact, autonomous device designed to filter and analyze DNA directly within aquatic environments, revolutionizing the way we monitor biodiversity.
  2. Medimon: A revolutionary health science education platform that merges interactive gaming with a trading card dynamic, enriching learning through nostalgia, collection, and ownership.
  3. PicsGenie.com: Makes thousands of customer experiences better by allowing anyone to design a shirt online in only 15 seconds, making it possible for anyone to have a blast designing a custom T-Shirt. No experience necessary.

Join us at 4PM, Sept 5 at the WSU Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center for the JMA Pitch Demo. MORE INFO

 

About the Jones Milestone Accelerator

Undergraduates, graduates, post-docs, or recent alumni! Move your learning to launching! The Center for Entrepreneurship through the Jones Milestone Accelerator program is offering up to $20,000 to entrepreneurial teams to move their business project forward to launch. The program is in Pullman, WA and will allow some work to be hybrid.

You have your team. Your beta test was a success. You know your market. You are ready for the next step. The Jones Milestone Accelerator is that step.

Headed by WSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship, this 10-week accelerator program helps student-led ventures set a path to success.

Accepted teams will get:

  • coached by a personalized team of entrepreneurial mentors
  • receive stipends to support their work
  • connect with WSU’s extensive network of corporate and community partners
  • gain access to legal credit through Lee & Hayes (up to $3,000)
  • have access to a co-working space on WSU’s campus

Upon completion of the program, teams who have met their milestones will also receive up to $20,000 in non-dilutive funding to get their ventures to the next growth stage.

Important dates

  • Applications will open April 7, 2025
  • Deadline for submission is Friday, May 2 by 11:59 p.m. (PDT): One-page Executive Summary + pitch deck + 2-min video with all team members pitching the “why” your team should be selected to participate in the JMA. Submit to: entrepreneurship@wsu.edu
  • Team interviews and pitches will take place the week of May 5-7 and selected teams will be announced by Monday, May 12.
  • 10-week program starts on Monday, May 26 and runs through August 1.
  • Students must be available for the in-person Pitch Demo event on Thursday, September 4 in Pullman, WA.

MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM

ELIGIBILITY

  • For the 2024 academic year, teams will be selected May 13 to participate in the Jones Milestone Accelerator. Acceptance to the program is contingent upon all participating team members’ commitment to moving their venture forward to the next stage.
  • The program is a 10-week intensive from May 27th through August 2nd and will be both in person and virtual (as necessary).
  • At least 1 Founder(s) of your company MUST be either a Washington State University student (undergraduate, graduate, post-doc) or recent alumni (graduated within the last 5 years). Team members from all WSU degree programs and campuses are eligible to apply.
  • Previous participation in entrepreneurial competitions and programs is preferred, but not required.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES & BENEFITS

  • All applying teams must be prepared to submit an executive summary and slide/pitch deck and 2-min team video. After the initial application screening, prospective teams will be asked to present to the program director before being accepted.
  • To allow teams to commit full-time to their company for the duration of the program, each participating team member will receive a needs-based stipend to assist them with business and/or living expenses during their participation in the program. The amount of these stipends will be determined in consultation with the program director.
  • Each team will be assigned a dedicated group of mentors and a coworking space in the Commons Building on WSU’s Pullman campus.
  • Teams will hold 6 bi-weekly meetings with their mentors to receive coaching, set milestones, and monitor progress. In addition, the Teams will meet weekly with Program Director for internal team progress reports.
  • Additional workshops and programming will be required throughout the program.
  • CEOs must also complete a final report and program survey on behalf of their team at the conclusion of the program.

Questions?

Ask about the Accelerator

SPECIAL THANKS TO

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Past Participants

Each year JMA awards many different prizes to student companies. Read our past participants for information on each year’s companies, and below find out more about some of our students in our JMA Spotlights.

2023 Teams

2022 Teams

2021 Teams

2020 Teams

2019 Teams

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Foster Garvey Open Collegiate League


Foster Garvey Open Collegiate League

Develop ideas, build a team, write a business plan, pitch your idea for real money.

Register for BPC BPC Event Schedule BPC Resources

Welcome to the 2025 Business Plan Competition Open League!

Registration, BPC Event Schedule buttons above are not updated yet.

RULES

ELIGIBILITY

  • The Open League of The WSU Business Plan Competition is open to teams from regional universities who are enrolled in the current spring semester. At least one member of your team must be a currently enrolled student, undergraduate, masters, PhD or professional.
  • The top five teams from regional universities will be selected from the Screening Round to compete in the Presentation Round of the Open League.
    • To enter the competition, a team must complete the online registration. Teams should include members possessing the essential background to enable the development of a serious business plan. Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged. There is no limit on the number of members; however, only four team members can present in the virtual presentation round. Small teams are recommended.

COMPETITION RULES

  • Teams must submit all required documentation to advance to each stage of the competition. The 4–7-page summary must include a full set of pro-forma financial statements for five (5) years (statement of cash flows with first year by month, income statement with first year by month, and balance sheet). No teams will advance to the Final Round without full financials.
  • Advancing teams must send at least one team member to the virtual Team Info Session. Remote access will be available on request for teams at other campuses or enrolled online.
  • Must present during the in- person Presentation Round here in Pullman. Only four members of the team will be allowed to present their idea before the judges during the Presentation Round of the competition. Advisors and other team members may observe, but may not participate in any way during the presentation, Q&A, or judges’ feedback session.
  • Advancing teams are invited to present their business in person during the Trade Show. This is a great opportunity to meet and network with judges from various industries and continue pitching your business.
  • Advancing teams are also invited to join the Awards Ceremony & Dinner following the Trade Show.
  • The business plan must be developed during the student’s tenure at the university. Students working with outside entrepreneurs must create an original business plan.
  • The same business idea will not be accepted at the competition more than twice. Repeat submissions after the second attempt will automatically be declined.
  • All submissions to the Business Plan Competition must live up to the higher ideals of Washington State University. Your idea must be appropriate for a university-sponsored event. The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies reserves the right to disqualify any entry that in its judgment violates the letter or the spirit of the competition or exceeds the bounds of social convention.
  • Foster Garvey $5000 Prize money will be divided equally among all registered team members.

View Screening Round Rubric     View Written Plan Rubric     View Presentation Rubric

Happy Pop Team, From University of Washington, Winning the BPC 2024 Open League Grand Price, With Foster Garvey Sponsor Representative Dan Wadkins, Associate Dean David Whidbee, and CfE Executive Paul Warner

 

Important Dates

Team Registration Opens: January 15, 2025
Team Registration Deadline: March 7, 2025
Executive Summary Due: March 21, 2025
Business Plan & Slide Deck Due: April 11, 2025
Business Plan Competition Finals Round: April 24, 2025

Questions?

Ask about the BPC

Ownership and Disclosure

All participants own the rights to their ideas.

Contestants must properly acknowledge any trademarks or copyrighted materials of others that are incorporated into the contestants’ materials. The contestants are responsible for obtaining any necessary permission before incorporating such materials into their submissions. Once materials are submitted, Washington State University and its schools and colleges reserve the right to publish information about the contestants’ work in university publications and to release information to the news media. The judging/presentation will be conducted in an open meeting with possible attendance by faculty, students and staff as well as media representatives and the general public.

Patents

Where applicable, contestants may choose to file patent applications on their own or to disclose their inventions to the Washington State University Research Foundation before or after the competition. Submission of an idea to the competition should be considered a public disclosure of the idea. (In some countries, patent applications must be filed prior to disclosure. In the U.S. inventors generally have one year after disclosure in which to file patent applications.)* Ultimately, protection of sensitive materials is the sole responsibility of the individual or team participating in the competition. *The Competition Rules are based in part on those of the University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Washington, and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania

Congratulations to all our 2024 Business Plan Competition Participants

We saw fierce competition this year and would like to congratulate all participants for all their hard work and dedication. For more information and a complete list of winners, visit: WSU INSIDER

Watch Award Ceremony on YouTube

We are delighted to announce the winning team of the Foster Garvey Open Collegiate League competition:

Open League

  1. Happy Pop – ($5,000)

 

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High School League


HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE GUIDELINES

Develop ideas, build a team, write a business plan, pitch your idea for real money.

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RULES

Eligibility

  • The contest is open to all Washington State high school students. To enter the competition, a team must complete the online registration. Teams should include members possessing the essential background to enable the development of a serious business plan. Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged. There is no limit on the number of members; however, small teams are recommended.
  • Teams must have a school or community advisor.

Competition Rules

  • Advancing teams must present in-person on the Pullman campus during the Final day of the competition. Only four members of the team will be allowed to present their idea before the judges during the Final Round of the competition.
  • All teams that present during the Final Round must be present in person at the Trade Show before Awards Dinner.
  • The same business idea will not be accepted at the competition more than twice. Repeat submissions after the second attempt will automatically be declined.
  • All submissions to the Business Plan Competition must live up to the higher ideals of Washington State University. Your idea must be appropriate for a university-sponsored event. The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies reserves the right to disqualify any entry that in its judgment violates the letter or the spirit of the competition or exceeds the bounds of social convention.
  • Prize money will be divided equally among all registered team members.

ROUNDS OF COMPETITION

Screening Round

The Screening Round is the first major hurdle you’ll face in the competition. Submit your 2-minute video online for scoring by our judges. Five presenting teams will be selected from this first round.

View Video Rubric

Presentation Round

After the Screening Round, you’ll receive an email naming the teams that will advance to the Presentation Round on the day of the Business Plan Competition. If your team is selected, you’ll need to submit your 1-page executive summary and pitch deck (10-15 slides) by the deadline in the BPC schedule.

View Presentation Rubric

Executive Summary Rubric

How the Presentation Round Works

Our High School League includes five teams. During the Presentation Round, each team delivers a presentation of its business plan to a panel of judges, following the schedule below:

  • Set up: 10 minutes
  • Presentation: 15 minutes
  • Questions and feedback: 20 minutes

Presenting teams are evaluated both on their written plan and their presentations. Judging criteria include team presentation and style, the customer problem, solution, value proposition, competitive advantages, market, and sales strategy, management, and financial planning.

Trade Show

All participants including High School and Open League participants will present their business during a cocktail hour Trade Show in the Senior Ballroom before the Awards Ceremony and dinner. This is a great opportunity for teams to network with and meet judges from all of the leagues.

Competition Awards Dinner

If you competed in the Presentation Round, you and your teammates will dine with the judges—a priceless opportunity to build professional connections. Following dinner, competition organizers will announce the winning teams.

Important Dates

2-minute video: Friday, March 21, 2025
Initial review of all submissions: March 24-28, 2025
Announcement of top 5 teams: Monday, March 31, 2025
Team Information sessions scheduled individually.
Final Five High School 1-page executive summary due April 11, 2025
Final High School Presentations in Pullman, Thursday, April 24, 2025 (travel funding available)

Questions?

Ask about the BPC

 

Cultural ties: Mead High student creates Red Thread Unraveled to benefit Chinese adoptees

Read The Spokesman-Review Story

 

Congratulations to all our 2024 Business Plan Competition Participants

We saw fierce competition this year and would like to congratulate all participants for all their hard work and dedication.

  • Protein Palace, $5,000
    Protein Palace is a fast casual restaurant specializing in high protein bowls and sandwiches.
  • Eco Trail, $2,000
    Eco Trail is an app that allows hikers to view a trail before they hike it.
  • 7b Surf Co., $1,000
    7b Surf Co. offers professional wake surfing lessons to individuals living and vacationing in Sandpoint, Idaho.
  • Victoria Paints, $750
    Victoria Paints offers affordable custom wall art.

For more information and a complete list of winners, visit: WSU INSIDER

 

Protein Palace, from Mercer Island High School, Winning the BPC 2024 High School League, with Believe In Me Foundation Representative, Dan Menser, Associate Dean David Whidbee, and CfE Executive Paul Warner

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The Center for Entrepreneurship At Washington State University – Go Cougs

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About The Center

About The Center for Entrepreneurship

Washington State University and our surrounding community offer a wealth of resources for students and alumni who want to create impact, from speaking events to mentorship and seed funding – and The Center for Entrepreneurship is the starting point to discovering all of them!

Established in 1995, the WSU Center for Entrepreneurship (CfE)  opens the world of entrepreneurial opportunity to students and promotes engagement, scholarship, and dialogue across the university and with stakeholders throughout Washington and the world. CfE is open to students from every college and major throughout the WSU system and provides programming, activities, resources, and events that help students identify the next right step for their entrepreneurial journey.

As a senior in college, designing a product and then traveling to Tanzania for hands-on field testing is something I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to do at any other university.— Annalise Miller, Kule co-founder & WSU alumna (Carson College of Business, Entrepreneurship & College of Arts and Sciences, Math – 2017)

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Partner With Us

The work of the Center for Entrepreneurship would not be possible without the support of the Cougar Community. Your participation as mentors for student startup teams, Business Plan Competition judges, and financial contributors enables our team to continue the important work of developing students who will become the innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

We thank you for your support. We encourage you to learn more about getting and staying, involved in the exciting work we are doing at WSU.

 

 

 

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Entrepreneurship Skills and Knowledge Accelerator registration open

PULLMAN, Wash. – The Carson College of Business is running its inaugural WSU Entrepreneurship Skills and Knowledge Accelerator 8 a.m.-5:45 p.m. June 11-15, in Spark 339.

The WSU Entrepreneurship Skills and Knowledge Accelerator (WESKA) is an immersive, week-long accelerator boot camp open to WSU postdoctoral, doctoral and master’s students from any discipline or WSU location who want to learn more about entrepreneurship.

This is not a sit-back and listen course. It is an exciting, dig-deep, learning experience. Activities include analyses, real-time work with ideas, role-plays, videos, group discussions, expert panels, anecdotes, lively social events, practice in financial and market assessment and other tools.

The WESKA curriculum has been designed by Carson College faculty, led by associate professor Arvin Sahaym. Sessions will be led by top WSU faculty in strategic entrepreneurship, finance, management and marketing, with guest presentations by campus, community and alumni experts in start-ups. WESKA is not offered for academic credit.

Participants may apply at the WESKA website until 5 p.m., Friday, May 18. Applications after this date may be considered if space is available. Interested participants are strongly encouraged to consult their faculty advisor/supervisor before applying for WESKA.

The Carson College is offering WESKA at no cost to the WSU graduate and post-doctoral community, with the generous support of Carson College donors. Breakfast and lunch are provided daily. Housing assistance is available to interested students coming from campuses beyond Pullman.

Contact:

Stephanie Rink, Carson College of Business, 509-335-8150, stephanie.rink@wsu.edu.