Topic: Miller College of Business

March 15, 2010

Teams from colleges and universities from across North America will compete March 18-19 for the $15,000 winner-take-all prize at the annual business plan competition at Ball State University.

Hosted by Ball State's nationally ranked Entrepreneurship Center, the Enterprise 8 business plan tournament will be conducted in the 11,500-seat Worthen Arena.

"We found it only fitting to honor a true Indiana heritage of basketball by conducting this event in our basketball arena," said Michael Goldsby, entrepreneurship center director and the Stoops distinguished professor of entrepreneurship. "Not only will the winning team receive a $15,000 cash prize, but team members will be able to cut down the nets as they become the next Cinderella story."

Eight quarterfinalist teams have been selected, based on submitted business plans, to participate, including Brigham Young University, University of Houston, Purdue University, Haverford College, University of Michigan, Anderson University, University of Western Ontario and University of Portland.

Business plans will be reviewed by a panel of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and business executives. Seeding will be determined March 18 during a free throw competition.

Four teams will advance to the Entrepreneurial round March 19 where they will compete for the final two seats in the championship. The championship, which is free and open to the public, begins at 1:30 p.m. An awards reception for all participants is at 4 p.m.

The Entrepreneurship Center's New Venture Creation course, an initiative of Ball State's Miller College of Business, has been nationally recognized as the ultimate entrepreneurial experience. It is a final pass-or-fail class that requires seniors to put their degrees on the line when their business plans are reviewed by a group of top business leaders just days before graduation.

Since it was founded more than 25 years ago, the university's entrepreneurship program has consistently ranked among the nation's elite, including being listed in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report since 1999.

By Marc Ransford, Senior Communications Strategist