DSU to host Entrepreneurs Day on Saturday

Area high school and college students with great business ideas will be celebrated at Dakota State University’s first-ever Entrepreneurs Day on Saturday. This event is the culmination of DSU’s annual business plan competition, which is a way for students to learn about all aspects of business, from accounting to marketing and management.

The competition is put on by DSU’s College of Business and Information Systems and the Collegiate Entrepreneurial Organization (or CEO).  This year’s sponsors for the event include Heartland Consumers Power District, the Lake Area Improvement Corporation, DSU’s Research and and Economic Development Office, and the Paulson Cyber Incubator and Entrepreneurial Center.  

This is the first year DSU opened the college division to other colleges and universities.  Dr. Michael Roach, DSU assistant professor of management and advisor of the CEO Club, said that the response has been better than expected.  There were eighteen college submissions from schools including DSU, School of Mines, Briar Cliff, Dakota Wesleyan University, and Lake Area Tech.  For the high school submissions, students saw “a need in their community and came up with an idea to fill that need.”

The finalists will present their pitch in person at DSU’s Paulson Cyber Incubator and Entrepreneurial Center.  The high school competition begins at 1:30 Saturday afternoon, followed by the college competition at 2:30 and awards presented at 3:00.  A link to watch the presentations can be found here.