Why Compete?

Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge

Championship Prizes
1st – $50K | 2nd – $30K | 3rd – $20K | 4th – $15K | 5th – $10K

Semi-Finals Round Prizes (All Top 25 Teams Win Cash Prizes)
2nd – $4K | 3rd – $3K | 4th – $2K | 5th – $1K

Special Recognition Awards

Social Impact Award: $10K

Go To Market Award: $10K

Brand Builder Award: $5K/$2.5K

Pitch Slam!

1st – $10K | 2nd – $5K | 3rd – $2.5K

Innovation Challenge

1st – $15K | 2nd – $10K | 3rd – $5K

e-Fest provides a generous stipend to support costs for travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and meals for the Top 25 Finalists teams and their faculty advisor to travel to Minneapolis, MN for the three-day e-Fest event.

Our host, The University of St. Thomas, issues a travel stipend check directly to advisors to support expenses incurred for e-Fest.

Advisors are responsible for managing travel stipends and arranging all hotel and travel accommodations for themselves and their student teams.

Universities requiring air travel to attend e-Fest will receive a travel stipend of $3,750 per team. Local teams not travelling by air will receive a stipend of $1,500 per team.

Please note that the travel stipend is considered reimbursement for expenses incurred. Advisors may not receive their checks until 4-6 weeks after we receive your approved W-9.

e-Fest is much more than just a business plan competition. The three-day event was designed to provide students with intentional collaboration, networking and professional development opportunities to increase their growth and acumen as entrepreneurs.

Students and advisors are able to attend professional development workshops led by seasoned experts and industry leaders. Workshop topics may include AI advancements, building online presence and e-commerce, SEM & SEO strategy, IP and business formation/ legal advice for start-ups, attracting seed capital & angel investors.