University of Portland business student Alex Calvert wins third annual $100K Challenge, a business plan competition

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

University of Portland student Alex Calvert became the for-profit business group winner of the University’s third $100K Challenge, an expanded business plan competition hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Launch Pad group.

Calvert’s winning business plan was creating a Portland franchise of Zoom Room, a high-end training facility and store for dogs and their owners. Calvert, along with his father Jonathan Calvert, secured the exclusive rights to have the franchise in eight locations in the Northwest. Their first store, located in the Pearl District, will open in June 2013 under the name Zoom Room Portland.

“This whole experience has been surreal,” Calvert said. “It’s been months of very hard work and I am very proud to represent UP in this way.”

University of Portland to host the $100K Challenge, a business plan competition sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship Saturday, April 27

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

University of Portland will host the $100K Challenge, a business plan competition sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship, on Saturday, April 27 in Shiley Hall Room 301 on campus, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd. The final round is set for 1 p.m. This annual event is free and open to the public.

Finalists in the for-profit track will be eligible to compete for an investment of up to $100,000 (in cash and in-kind services) made by the Launch Pad Fund, a UP angel investment pool comprised of alumni donors. Finalists will have up to nine months to finalize their plan and form a venture, to qualify for the $100K prize. Those competing in the non-profit track will be eligible for a $2,500 grant and professional services award.

“This is the third year since the Launch Pad was formed and offers an opportunity to access seed stage investment for students interested in actually launching their business venture,” said Pe

Larry Baer, CEO of World Series champion San Francisco Giants, to speak at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, April 11

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

Larry Baer, chief executive officer of the World Series champion San Francisco Giants, will deliver the annual Bauccio Lecture in Entrepreneurship on Thursday, April 11, at 4:15 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium on the University of Portland campus, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Baer has gained a national reputation as one of professional sports’ leading visionaries. Under his direction, the Giants opened Pacific Bell Park in 2000 to widespread acclaim, won baseball’s World Series in 2010 and 2012, and are one of only four teams to exceed three million in attendance for eight consecutive years (2000-2007). Baer was marketing director for the Giants from 1980 to 1983 and has been a key strategist for the organization since 1992, when he was named executive president. He has been CEO since 2012.

The Bauccio Lecture in Entrepreneurship w

University of Portland recruiting junior students for second cohort of new Faith-Based Leadership Program

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0700

The University of Portland’s Faith-Based Leadership Program is currently recruiting for its second cohort. The innovative new program is designed for high-achieving juniors, who want to learn about the complexity of the needs facing leaders in Church and other faith-based organizations.

The program is an opportunity for students to gain practical leadership experience within a faith-based organization through an internship mentored by one of the organization’s leaders.

“The great thing about this program is that the students get to meet and work exclusively with faith-based organizations,” said David Leslie, executive director of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and a current mentor in the program. “The students will get to work on a project during their internship, so they can see the lasting contributions they have made on each organization.”

In additio

University of Portland - Center for Entrepreneurship - Latest News

University of Portland business student Alex Calvert wins third annual $100K Challenge, a business plan competition

University of Portland to host the $100K Challenge, a business plan competition sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship Saturday, April 27

Larry Baer, CEO of World Series champion San Francisco Giants, to speak at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, April 11

University of Portland recruiting junior students for second cohort of new Faith-Based Leadership Program