What:
Student Entrepreneurship Competition
Who:
All UVI Students
Kickoff Meeting:
Oct. 18, 2012 - 5:30 p.m.
Details:
Phone: (340) 693-1303
Email: gmetts@uvi.edu
Web Page: 13D Competition
The University of the Virgin Islands will kick
off its second 13D Entrepreneurship Competition for students at an
information session at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18. Another
$60,000 in prize money will go to student teams that come up with
the top three business plans.
All UVI students are welcome to participate, according to Dr. Glen
Metts, a professor in UVI's School of Business who is organizing
the program. UVI student teams on both St. Thomas and St. Croix are
eligible to participate. The prizes for first, second and third
place in the competition are $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000,
respectively.
Dr. Metts pointed out that a wide variety of opportunities for
start-up businesses exists in the Virgin Islands. He said that not
just business students should enter the competition. He said
students majoring in any discipline - marine science, nursing, math
and information technology - should be exploring the possibilities.
"No matter what school or college you are in, there are
opportunities for entrepreneurs in the V.I.," Metts said.
The kick-off meeting will feature a presentation by one of last
year's winners, Patricia Rogers, who took the top prize of $30,000
to help fund her idea for Virgin Fresh Egg Farm. All UVI students
who are present for the meeting will have the opportunity to sign
up for this year's competition.
The meeting will take place, via videoconference, in the
first-floor conference room of the Administration and Conference
Center on the St. Thomas campus, and in Room 102 of the North West
Wing on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix.
Funding for the competition is provided by a $5 million gift to UVI
from investment strategist and entrepreneur Kiril Sokoloff, the
founder of 13D Research, which is based on St. Croix. Four UVI
students were awarded a total of $60,000 to support their start-up
business ideas in the inaugural 13D Competition. A total of 72 UVI
students in 21 teams participated.
Details are available from UVI business professor Dr. Glenn Metts
by calling (340) 693-1303 or sending email to gmetts@uvi.edu.