Culver’s Business Model Competition

The Culver’s Business Model Competition is the Center’s signature annual competition, providing the university’s most talented student entrepreneurs the opportunity to compete for seed funding and exclusive access to venture development resources.

The competition accepts ideas in any stage of development – from initial idea to already operational businesses. It is open to ventures led by any student or student team enrolled at UW Oshkosh (Oshkosh, Fox Cities, or Fond du Lac).

Students accepted to compete will have 4 minutes to present their business model, followed by 2 minutes of Q&A with the panel of judges.

Couldn’t make the info sessions? Review the presentation slides here: 2023 BMC Informational Session

 

Prizes:

Over $25,000 in cash and in-kind prizes will be awarded to the top three finalists! In addition, the top two finalists qualify to compete in The Pitch. The overall winner earns the opportunity to compete in the WI Big Idea Tournament (WBIT).

1st Place: $5,000 Cash + In-Kind Services
2nd Place: $3,500 Cash + In-Kind Services
3rd Place: $1,500 Cash + In-Kind Services

The People’s Choice Award will be voted on by the audience!

Guidelines:

  • Student businesses can vary from an initial idea to a concept that has been recently developed. All types of startups and ideas are accepted.
  • Students from any college or major are welcome to apply.
  • Must be enrolled at UW Oshkosh – Oshkosh, Fox Cities, or Fond du Lac.
  • Prior winners are not eligible to participate with the same business.

Timeline:

  • Application Deadline: Sunday, March 12th at 11:59 p.m.
  • Announcement of Contestants: 3-5 days after applications close
  • Business Model Competition: Thursday, April 13th, 2023

IMPORTANT DATES:

Applications Closed                                   Sunday, March 12th at 11:59 p.m.

Finalists Announced
3-5 days after application closes

Business Model Competition
Thursday, April 13th, 2023

2021-22 WINNERS
1st Place: Rising Phoenix Martial Arts
Devan Hohn
Rising Phoenix Martial Arts is an inclusive martial arts school for youth and adults. Rising Phoenix will be open to all ages for training. but its niche will be classes for adults and children with both mild and significant disabilities and needs.

2nd Place: Happy Spa
Noah Bauer
Happy Spa is a device that floats on top of a hot tub that will continuously monitor all relevant chemicals (pH, chlorine, etc.) and will then automatically distribute the amount of necessary chemicals that will bring the water back into the proper balance.

3rd Place: Assistive Home Tech
Kevin Dwyer
Assistive Home Tech provides smart home assistive device consultations, equipment installations, and services to extend out customers’ independence and improve their quality of life.

People’s Choice Award: Avail
Coby Rauls
Avail Financial is a platform that is designed to help college students become smarter with their money. The web-based platform will be available to students to use as a budgeting tool, while also providing students the ability to connect with financial experts in their area to game-plan ways of paying their student loans in the most effective manner.

2020 WINNERS
1st Place: Rice Time
Jaden Radcliff of Hortonville
Jaden realized that college students desire high quality, affordable meals, and the RICE TIME food truck delivers. Jaden shared that he plans to sell rice and stir fry dishes that have been perfected through years of ingenuity. Jaden is a Freshman at UW Oshkosh studying Physics.

2nd Place: Lucid Creators
Shifa Jaleel Ahmad of Oshkosh
Lucid Creators, a service-based company that creates virtual training modules, scenarios and tours using augmented and virtual reality and Internet of Things technology. Shifa also received the most votes to earn the People’s Choice Award. Shifa is a Senior majoring in Information Systems.

3rd Place: Flora Fruit Company
Jalen Greenlee of Brown Deer
Flora Fruit Company is a fruit box subscription company that delivers fresh, high-quality fruit boxes to our customer’s doorstep every week, bi-weekly, or upon request. Jalen is a Junior pursuing a Management major with a concentration in Business/Entrepreneurship.

READ MORE…

2019 WINNERS
1st Place: Prexo
Abbie Merrill, Ian McDonald
A mobile app that allows for users to get notifications on executive orders as they are signed, engage with other users, and contact congressional representatives.

2nd Place: TapTech Systems
Dakota Swank
An interactive, automated beer tap system with RFID technology that allows users to browse, select, and pour their own beverages without a bartender.

3rd Place: Grace Farms
Kaila Vander Wielen
A long-term residential therapy farm for survivors of human trafficking. In addition to group and solo therapy sessions, residents will spend their time making soap and growing sustainably farmed, organic produce.

People’s Choice Award:
Divine Beauty LLC Rebecca Dailey

VIEW EVENT PHOTOS
VIEW THE RECORDING
READ MORE…

CONTACT US

Dan Brosman, Executive Director
  Sage Hall, Room 1410
(920) 424-1826


Megan Hart, Program Manager
  Sage Hall, Room 1410
(920) 424-1824


  @uwocei

2023 Sponsors & In-Kind Providers