The 2024 Annual Business Idea Challenge at West Chester University is now open, and all ideas are welcome! $11,500 in prize money is being awarded at this year’s competition.

Let your big idea become a reality by winning this competition and jumpstarting your business.

Co-hosted by the Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center, the Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic, and The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, the 12th Annual WCU Business Idea Competition promotes creativity and idea generation by recognizing innovative ideas for new products, services, and technology. The presenting sponsor of the competition is Meridian Bank.

WCU Business Idea Competition partners are SCORE of Chester & Delaware County and i2n, an initiative of Chester County Economic Development Council.

The goals of the competition are to foster idea generation and to facilitate the commercialization of business ideas.

Ideas will be reviewed by business angels and business advisors. The top ideas will move on to the Round 2 Fast Pitch video submission, and the top two submissions in each track will move on to the final round pitch competition.

Business experts Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic Angel Investors and members of The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce will judge the Idea Pitch.

Winners will be announced and awards will be presented at the conclusion of the Idea Pitch.

Ideas that have not yet been commercialized and can be used as the foundation for a new business are eligible.

There are four tracks in this competition:

• WCU undergraduates
• WCU Graduate students, alumni, faculty, and staff
• Chester County-based startups
• Chester County high school students

You will be asked to explain your idea for a product, service, or technology that can be used as the foundation for a new business, focusing on description, uniqueness, and target market.

Submissions are due on Feb. 26th.

Prizes include:

• Grand Prize: $2,500
• First Place Prize in each track: $1,500
• Second Place Prize in each track: $750

Learn more about the WCU Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center 2024 Idea Challenge and how the WCU offers a comprehensive public institution, with a diverse range of more than 200 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 50 fields of study.