The Grant County Economic Growth Council will host its seventh annual I-69 Collegiate Innovation Challenge on Feb. 8-10 in Warsaw. This one of a kind competition finds five teams challenged to select a unique social problem and create a for-profit business solution in a period of less than 24 hours.

The teams consist of five students from each of the following schools: Anderson, Ball State, Huntington, Indiana Wesleyan, and Taylor Universities. The competition will take place at the Wyndham Hotel in Warsaw.

The I-69 Collegiate Innovation Challenge began in 2006. It is designed to encourage entrepreneurship among students along the I-69 corridor, provide networking opportunities, generate creative ideas, and allow for collaboration between universities.

A panel of five judges will decide the winning team based on innovation, potential for making a difference, profitability, team collaboration and quality of presentation. The winners will be announced at an awards dinner on Saturday, Feb. 9. Each member of the first place team will receive a prize valued at about $500. Each member of the second place team will receive a prize valued at about $100. Each member of the third place team will receive a prize valued at $50.

“It was a really good experience – probably one you’ve never had before,” shared Brad Miller, a student involved in last year’s I-69 Challenge, “Personalities come together and you learn to use that to your advantage. It gave me the connection I needed for my dream job!”

The I-69 Collegiate Innovation Challenge is sponsored by the five participating universities, Duke Energy, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Indiana Michigan Power, Indiana Municipal Power Agency, Vectren Energy, and the Grant County Economic Growth Council

Source: Grant County Economic Growth Council,  Inside INdiana Business