BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:icalendar-ruby CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:The Business Venture Tournament X-WR-TIMEZONE:Pacific Time (US & Canada) BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260910T221302Z UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_49712326996486 DTSTART:20250528T000000Z DTEND:20250528T020000Z DESCRIPTION:SOU’s Business Venture Tournament Gala Returns May 27 with Ne w Wildcard Pitch Contest\nand $3\,000 Grand Prize\n\n\nAshland\, OR – So uthern Oregon University will bring together student innovation and live\n audience energy at the 2025 Business Venture Tournament Gala\, happening o n Tuesday\,\nMay 27\, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Rogue River Room of th e Stevenson Union.\n\n\nThis year’s final competition features four dedi cated student finalist teams\, selected from a\ncompetitive pool of entrie s. Each team is working to complete their final deliverables and\nwill pit ch live for a chance to win $3\,000 for first place\, $700 for second\, an d a $250\nsustainability bonus for the venture that best integrates enviro nmental\, social\, and\neconomic impact.\n\n\nThe tournament was founded t hrough the vision and generosity of SOU alumni Jim Teece\nand Dena Matthew s\, who launched the initiative to help students “Think Big” and bring \nforward ideas with the power to create real-world change.\n\n\nNew This Year: Wildcard Pitch Contest – Open to All SOU Students\nDebuting in 202 5\, the Wildcard Pitch Contest invites any student attending the Gala to s hare\na one-minute pitch on the spot—no advance entry required. The cont est is designed to\nwelcome all majors and experience levels and spark cre ativity from every corner of campus.\nThe idea for this exciting new conte st came from SOU student Jared Mulloy\, whose\nbackground in broadcasting will be showcased as he takes the mic as MC for the Wildcard\nPitch Contes t. His vision was to create a low-pressure\, high-energy space where every \nstudent feels empowered to contribute.\n\n \n\nOne winning idea\, chosen by a mix of audience and judge voting\, will receive a $200 cash\nprize a nd public recognition during the awards ceremony. Wildcard participants wi ll also be\nencouraged to further develop their pitch into a full venture submission for next year’s\ncompetition—and a shot at the $3\,000 gran d prize.\n\n\n“This is about opening doors\, not raising bars\,” said Douglas Daley\, MBA Program\n\nCoordinator and Tournament Director. “Whe ther students arrive with a polished plan or\njust a spark of curiosity\, we want the Gala to be a space where ideas come alive—and new\nvoices fe el invited in.”\n\n \n\nA Night of Energy\, Ideas\, and Opportunity\nThe Gala is free and open to all SOU students\, faculty\, staff\, and communi ty members\, with\nfree food\, door prizes\, and engaging student-led pres entations judged by local professionals\nand campus leaders.\n\n \n\nReal Connections with Local Businesses\nIn addition to student pitches and the Wildcard Contest\, this year’s Gala will feature a\nrobust entrepreneur fair and networking area. Thanks to the efforts of Jenny Chynoweth\nand th e support of our community partners\, more than a dozen local organization s and\nbusinesses will be present to connect with students\, offer insight s\, and showcase real\nopportunities.\n\n \n\nConfirmed table hosts includ e:\n- Southern Oregon Innovation Hub / SOREDI\n- Business Oregon\n- SCORE Mentors\n- SOU Small Business Development Center\n- Jackson County Library Services\n- Jefferson Public Radio\n- Rogue Valley Times\n- KMVU-TV\n- Or egon Entrepreneurs Network\n- Talent Maker City\n- Ashland Food Co-op\n- S hepherd's Dream\n- SOU School of Business and Institute of Applied Sustain ability\n\n \n\nStudents and guests can explore innovative business ventur es\, connect with professionals\,\nand build relationships that could lead to mentorships\, internships—or even future\ncollaborations.\n\n \n\nTh is year’s event is made possible thanks to the generous support of our f ounding sponsor\,\nthe Jim Teece and Dena Matthews Foundation\; supporting sponsors Southern Oregon\nInnovation Hub/ SOREDI\, Valley Immediate Care\ , Shepherd’s Dream\, and Rogue Valley Times\; and gift-in-kind donors in cluding Britt Music Arts Festival\, Dancin Winery\, Talent\nMaker City\, Ashland Springs Hotel\, and the AI for Good Conference.\n\nWhether you’r e there to cheer for a finalist\, pitch your own idea\, or just enjoy the energy\,\nthis is a night where creativity takes the spotlight.\n\n \n\nEv ent Details:\n- Date: Tuesday\, May 27\, 2025\n- Time: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.\ n- Location: Rogue River Room\, Stevenson Union\, SOU Campus\n- Cost: Free and open to the entire community\nFor more information\, visit: https://v enture.sou.edu\n\n \n\nContact:\nJenny Chynoweth\nBVT Event Strategist\nEm ail: chynowethj@sou.edu\n\n \n\nDouglas Daley Jr.\nMBA Program Coordinator Business Venture Tournament Director\nEmail: daleyd@sou.edu GEO:42.185797;-122.694489 LOCATION:Stevenson Union\, Rogue River Room SUMMARY:The Business Venture Tournament URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.sou.edu/event/the-business-venture-tournament CATEGORIES:Local Events END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR