Event for Concordia Catalyst Competition

Concordia Catalyst Competition

Date and Time

Location

Dunklau Center for Science, Math & Business

The Concordia Catalyst Competition (C3) is an annual Pitch and Business Plan Competition developed to provide practical experience for those formulating and executing business plans. C3 is open to high school students, community members and all current students and alumni of Concordia University, Nebraska. 

Pitch Competition

The Pitch Competition is held in the fall of each year. Competitors develop an idea for a business, conduct market research and pitch their idea. The Seward County Chamber & Development Partnership offers two Mentor Nights where competitors can meet with business leaders in Seward County and receive feedback and advice for moving forward. Business ideas that meet the scoring criteria during the initial review process will compete in a semi-final round judged by Concordia University, Nebraska faculty and staff and Seward County business leaders. Finalists are chosen to participate in the Pitch Competition finals judged by local and regional business leaders. Prize money and a scholarship to attend Concordia University, Nebraska are awarded to the top finalists.  

2024 Pitch Competition Dates

Entrepreneur Mentor Night

October 29, 2024 7-9 PM
Sparetime Lounge & Grill Outdoor Venue

Local entrepreneurs and small business owners in Seward are on hand to meet with students, community members and alumni to help them with questions and logistics of taking an idea to a fully-functioning business

Registration Deadline

November 12, 2024

Register for the pitch competition

Pitch Semifinals

Nov. 19th
Dunklau Center for Business, Math & Science

Pitch Finals

Dec. 3rd
Pohlman Lecture Hall in the Dunklau Center for Business, Math & Science

Business Plan Competition

The Business Plan Competition is held in the spring of each year. This opportunity allows individuals to add financial analysis and other market and business research to demonstrate the viability and legitimacy of their proposed businesses. Finalists for the Business Plan Competition are eligible to win prize money that they can use as seed money to either continue research or start their business. 

Mentor Nights

Dates Coming Soon!
Competitors should bring a one-page executive summary of their business, which includes a summary of the business, revenue, operating and personnel expenses.
Bottle Rocket Brewery

Mentors and students start arriving at 7 p.m. We'll begin upstairs at Bottle Rocket Brewery.

Around 7:30 p.m., students will present two-minute descriptions of their business plans. After that, we'll spread mentors out at various tables and students can ask them their three most burning questions. Jonathan Jank will serve as timekeeper to make sure we finish the evening at 9 p.m.

Business Plan Registration Deadline

Dates Coming Soon!

REGISTRATION COMING

Business Plan Semifinal

Dates Coming Soon!
The semifinals will consist of a 10-minute pitch and 10 minutes of questions from the judges.
Dunklau Center for Science, Math & Business

Business Plan Final Round

Dates Coming Soon!
Reception from 5-6 p.m.
Final Round from 6-8 p.m.
Dunklau Center for Science, Math & Business

Additional Assistance for Competitors

Any individual who enters the Business Plan Competition can both re-enter the competition each year and have priority access to the services of the Community & Organization Development Clinic (CODC) that is housed in the College of Business & Technology at Concordia University, Nebraska. The CODC is a consulting firm led by the College of Business & Technology Faculty with work performed for entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations and small businesses by undergraduate and graduate students. The CODC has helped over 15 organizations in the past seven years increase awareness, revenue and profitability. 

Read about past C3 Competitions

Fall 2021 C3 Competition

Spring 2020 C3 Competition

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