GVSU hosts entrepreneurial challenge

An event designed to create cross collaboration between students from several West Michigan universities will be held at Grand Valley State University April 17.

MWest Challenge, hosted by Grand Valley’s Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, allows entrepreneurially minded students to develop and grow new ventures based on their own ideas. The event includes 41 startup teams representing 100 students from Grand Valley and its university partners — Aquinas College, Calvin College, Kendall College of Art and Design, Cornerstone University, Davenport University, Grand Rapids Community College, Kuyper College and Hope College.

All teams will have the opportunity to compete for $30,000 in prize money. As a result of last year’s first annual MWest Challenge, seven teams incorporated a new business in Michigan.

New to this year’s event is the Health Care Innovation award, sponsored by Spectrum Health Innovations. The $5,000 award will help increase the success of new biomedical product concepts with commercialization opportunities in West Michigan’s growing life sciences corridor.

MWest Challenge
April 17
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Eberhard Center
Pew Grand Rapids Campus, 301 Fulton W. St.
www.mwestchallenge.com

Since it’s initial kick off in November 2014, MWest Challenge has provided networking opportunities, mentors, workshops and seminars for participating students.

The event is sponsored by and in partnership with Atomic Object, GR Current, Spartan Innovations, Spectrum Health Innovations, Start Garden and Varnum LLP.

For more information, contact Grand Valley’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at (616) 331-7582.