A short YouTube video (2015) describing the University of Portland’s Entrepreneur Scholars program: its founding, donors, structure, mentorship network, pitch competitions, and alumni outcomes. The program began in 1999 with seven students, is supported by Robert Franz and Elsie Franz Finley, serves about 25 students annually, and runs pitch competitions (16K Challenge starting 2000, expanded to the 100k Challenge in 2011). Around 300 graduates have completed the program and launched ventures across multiple industries.
Questions this video answers
1999, with seven students.
Robert Franz and his sister Elsie Franz Finley.
About 25 students per year.
2000.
2011 (became the 100k Challenge thanks to investments through the Launchpad Fund).
Chapters
Entrepreneurs are visionaries who are inspired to create new business ventures, social enterprises, and innovative products. They imagine what could be and say, why not? At the University of Portland, Entrepreneur Scholars are selected from a broad mix of academic disciplines, but they all share a common connection, a desire to think big and to do something extraordinary. This desire has been nurtured since the Entrepreneur Scholars program began with seven students in 1999, thanks to generous funding provided by Robert Franz and his sister Elsie Franz Finley. Today, this highly competitive program, which serves about 25 students a year, has received numerous national awards and is recognized as a model program throughout the country. UP's unique program challenges Entrepreneur Scholars to explore outside the classroom, cultivating professional mentorships to help develop their proposed ventures. These mentors have empowered students to break down geographic barriers and access industry experts across the US and in 18 countries. Another crucial element, the 16K Challenge, began in 2000 and gave students the opportunity to pitch business plans and compete for seed money. In 2011, this became the 100k challenge, thanks to additional investments made through the Launchpad Fund. Since the program's beginning, numerous businesses can trace their roots to this experience. Entrepreneur Scholars have founded companies in research and technology, the food and beverage industry, health and wellness programs, educational disciplines and non profits, and finance and retail. But their success goes beyond creating new ventures. 300 proud graduates of the Entrepreneur Scholars Program thrive in their professional careers because they are risk takers, innovators, and difference makers who want to change the world.
