Seed money for a start-up company totaling $70,000 will be awarded tonight when the winner of the annual Olin Cup investment prize is announced at 6 p.m. in Graham Chapel on the Washington University campus. Over 30 local entrepreneurs entered the competition last fall. The five finalists will present their ‘elevator pitches’ — short company profiles — before the winners are announced. An additional $5000 cash prize will be awarded to a Washington University student involved in one of the ventures.
Prior to the award ceremony at 5p.m., Build-A-Bear Founder and CEO Maxine Clark will be the featured guest in the University’s Assembly Series. She will answer questions about entrepreneurship in today’s economy.
The event is co-sponsored by the Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and the Olin School of Business. The goal of the center and the Olin Cup competition is to harness the entrepreneurial potential of the University and the St. Louis region by using three tools: collaboration, learning and funding.
The Olin Cup was created as a cross-campus activity in 1987 by the Olin Business School. the competition is sponsored by Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal LLP; the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association; RubinBrown; Lopata, Flegel & Company LLP; Polsinelli Shughart PC; Senniger Powers LLP; and the Olin Business School.
WHAT: Olin Cup Award Ceremony
WHEN: Thursday, February 5, 2009
- 5pm Maxine Clark talk
- 6pm Awards announced; reception to follow in Danforth University Center; interviews with winners, finalists, judges available
WHERE: Graham Chapel, Washington University in St. Louis
For more information, please contact:
Melody Walker News & Information Director Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis Office: 314-935-6325 Mobile: 314-941-2046 melody_walker@wustl.edu