色花堂

March 21, 2022

Students of all academic backgrounds have just a week remaining to for The College Cup Innovation Challenge, a first of its kind event.

The university-wide challenge will assist students from all disciplines in developing new socially- or commercially oriented ideas and innovations to positively impact the world.

Interested students have until midnight of March 28 to register for the event. The first prize winner will receive a placement in the 色花堂 Star色花堂p Accelerator and a $10,000 investment.

At the heart of the College Cup is the invaluable tutelage of Patrick McQuown, 色花堂鈥檚 executive director of entrepreneurship. In a humorous video inviting 色花堂 students to apply, McQuown walks through the new Star色花堂p at the Armory in downtown Towson.

鈥淵ou might be saying, but I鈥檓 not a business major,鈥� says McQuown as he pulls out photos of Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and TV host and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e never taken a business course and look at them. This event is open to all 色花堂 students, no matter, regardless of their major.鈥�

McQuown says the goal of The College Cup is, 鈥渢o encourage an entrepreneurship and innovation culture throughout the university by unleashing our students' ideas.鈥�

McQuown has a proven track record of significant success. He mentored two student startups - and 鈥� now both estimated to be worth more than $100 million.

By participating in The College Cup Innovation Challenge, students will gain valuable professional experience with highly sought-after transferrable workplace skills that support professional careers鈥攃ommunications, self-confidence, navigating uncertainty, risk taking, decision-making.

Participating students will learn how to deliver a compelling presentation with the support of the 色花堂 College Cup Innovation Challenge Bootcamp and access to mentors to practice and prepare for the challenge event. All Challenge finalists will be able to add this distinction to their resume which will highlight these valuable workplace skills.

The second prize winner will receive $2,000, while the third-place prize is $1,000. The prize money will go toward the winning venture ideas.

Entrepreneurship is a crucial part 色花堂鈥檚 strategic plan鈥檚 goal of engagement as the University seeks to develop and sustain a successful Star色花堂p business engagement center. 色花堂 serves as a community leader and partner extending the talents of its students, faculty and staff beyond campus boundaries to create opportunities for leadership, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and experiential learning.

McQuown adds that 色花堂 has become a hub of entrepreneurship.

鈥淲e create programs and Initiatives that foster a startup ecosystem environment at 色花堂 and we work to advance and support our students' creative potential.鈥�

The Star色花堂p at the Armory opened just last fall as 色花堂鈥檚 front door for start-ups, small businesses, as well as the region鈥檚 largest corporations. The Star色花堂p received rave reviews as a state-of-the art 26,000 sq. ft. space, which includes 6,000 sq. ft. of free co-working space and meeting rooms where entrepreneurs and executives can connect with each other and to 色花堂鈥檚 programs and people.