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"Studying entrepreneurship at Illinois State University's College of Business prepared me for business ownership. It was fun, challenging and above all extremely rewarding. I launched AuraLinks in 2009 during my junior year of undergraduate studies as a class project."

~ Michael Somers '11 - Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management

Somers competes in Entrepreneurship Day, Illinois State's annual Business Plan/Elevator Pitch competition. His winning pitch was a phone application that assists students to prepare for their upcoming semester. The application stores critical information such as assignment due dates, class times, instructor contact information and office hours.

Entrepreneurship Day Competition 2011 (E-Day) consists of a university-wide Business Plan Competition, and Elevator Pitch Competition. Mitch Lowe, President of Redbox, will be our Keynote Speaker this year. Teams will compete for an estimated $10,000.00 in funding and in-kind prizes to help kick start their ventures.

Participants and attendees will have the opportunity to network and connect with venture capitalists, angel investors, incubator managers, practicing entrepreneurs and business professionals.

All Illinois State University students are eligible.

For more information about Entrepreneurship Events, please review the E-day web site.

Kick Off & Team Up Event

Monday - October 3, 2011
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Illinois State University Alumni Center - Room 118

The purpose of this event is to provide competitors with an overview of the competition and an opportunity to build or join venture teams. Team Up is a way to connect Idea people with skill people to form venture teams. Note that participants don't need to have an idea for a new venture to compete in E-Day.

Each idea person will have 90 seconds to pitch their idea to the audience. After these pitches, each idea person will have a table and each of the skill people will have a chance to connect with the idea people. In the midst of these connections open networking will take place.

Writing Business Proposals Workshop

This workshop is to coach E-Day participants in crafting well written business proposal. The workshop will consist of a lecture style presentation by an Entrepreneurship Professor within the College of Business and the Managing Director of the Center for Emerging Entrepreneurs Incubator. Networking will follow the workshop.

Delivering Winning Pitches

Wednesday, November 2, 2011
4:30 - 5:30 pm
State Farm Hall of Business 357

The purpose of this workshop is to coach E-Day participants in delivering winning pitches and being prepared for Q&A. The workshop will consist of a lecture style presentation by an Entrepreneurship Professor within the College of Business and the Managing Director of the Center for Emerging Entrepreneurs Incubator. Networking will follow the workshop.

Entrepreneurship Day

Friday, November 12, 2011
1:00 - 4:30 pm
Illinois State University Alumni Center