A Virtual Experience
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all Entrepreneurial Challenge events will be hosted via Zoom.
Adapting Your Digital Marketing Strategy Using Search Ads
With Dr. Daniel Brannon
This seminar for small business owners is intended to help you increase and maintain your digital presence during the Covid-19.
Learn more below.
Entrepreneurial Challenge
The Entrepreneurial Challenge is an annual startup venture competition hosted by the Monfort College of Business for the enrichment of student experiential learning at the University of Northern Colorado.
We are dedicated to providing the essential education, network and opportunities our students and Colorado entrepreneurs need in order to succeed in today’s ever-evolving world. Whether you are an aspiring Colorado-based entrepreneur, UNC student or faculty, or simply want to help our program grow, there are countless opportunities for you to get involved with the Entrepreneurial Challenge!
Educational Experiences
The Entrepreneurial Challenge offers educational experiences apart from our pitch competition!
With events like Cindy Scalicky’s Perfect Pitch seminar, which acts as a preparation
course for participants to hone their pitching skills before they have the chance
to truly present their ideas, to the interactive professional panel, which features
business men and women currently active in the workforce as well as Monfort College
of Business faculty. Participants are encouraged to come prepared with questions for
our panelists and featured guests about their professional experiences as well as
specific topics correlated to the success of your entrepreneurial endeavors, as there
will be plenty of opportunities for engagement via open discussions.
"The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at the University of Northern Colorado and in the Monfort College of Business! There is so much excitement and enthusiasm around the Entrepreneurial Challenge. I strongly encourage current and aspiring entrepreneurs to participate in an event that will most certainly advance their ventures."
– Dr. Sher Gibbs, Dean, Monfort College of Business
It all starts with an idea and an opportunity
All applications must be submitted by January 24, 2021
Open and Greeley Divisions
Are you a Colorado-based entrepreneur with a pre-launch or early-stage startup? If so, our Open Division is here to help lift your project off the ground!
Collegiate Division
Are you a student of the University of Northern Colorado or attend a community college in Colorado? If so, our Collegiate Division was built to facilitate your education!
Want to watch?
Not everyone interested in the Entrepreneurial Challenge needs to come prepared with a pitch. Spectators play an important role in our events as well, and this year, you will have the opportunity to network and support our contestants from behind the screen.
Semifinals RegistrationFinals Registration
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Are you a small business owner struggling to get your message out?
No matter the industry, small businesses across the world have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Although our focus has been entrepreneurship, we have something to provide to small businesses as well!
Adapting Your Digital Marketing Strategy Using Search Ads
With Dr. Daniel Brannon
The importance of digital advertising in reaching customers has greatly increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of this workshop is to provide small business owners with a basic understanding of search engine advertising and how it can be effectively used as part of a broader digital marketing strategy to bring customers to your website. Insights for using behavioral science to maximize the effectiveness of search ad copy will also be discussed.
Event Details
January 27
6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
No registration required!
About Dr. Daniel Brannon
Daniel Brannon, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Northern Colorado, Monfort College of Business. Daniel’s academic background consists of obtaining a B.S. in Computer Science at New Mexico State University before attending Arizona State University where he received an M.B.A and later a PhD in marketing. Before moving to Colorado, Daniel had a career at Lockheed Martin as a Database Engineer as well as a Buyer and Supplier Quality Assurance Engineer. Daniel has most recently received the Monfort College of Business Professor of the Year award, along with two Marketing Professor of the Year awards and the MCB Scholar of the Year award. Daniel has research published in credible journals such as the Journal of Product & Brand Management, the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, as well as the Journal of Consumer Research.
Hear It From Us
“My experience with the Entrepreneurship Challenge was eye-opening. Competing last year was an insightful opportunity to practice pitching a business plan. I was able to refine my business strategies based on the feedback I received from the judges and create a tangible plan for executing my ideas. I also gained confidence in presenting to what could potentially be investors for my start-up in the future.”
– Emmy Scott, University of Northern Colorado Student
"The Monfort Entrepreneurial Challenge was an incredible event that helped validate my business model, Laborjack. Blake (my founder) and I participated in the event in 2019, and have since grown our business at a rapid pace we never thought was possible. Thank you to everyone involved and I highly recommend any aspiring entrepreneurs to validate their concept at the Monfort Entrepreneurial Challenge."
– Josh Moser, Cofounder at Laborjack LLC
“The Entrepreneurial Challenge has served me in countless ways. I get to build deep, meaningful connections with fellow students, work with MCB faculty and staff outside of the classroom, and network with business professionals in every industry across Colorado. I like to think of the Entrepreneurial Challenge as off-season conditioning before I graduate and enter the workforce. Here, I get to take the concepts and techniques I learn in class and immediately put them to practice in a real world environment."
– Halaki Gionet, Entrepreneurial Challenge Student Manager
