At Concordia University Chicago we encourage students to apply their creativity and entrepreneurial mindset to the business and nonprofit world.

Competition gives our young entrepreneurs the chance to create an idea, construct a business plan, and pitch the idea to judges. Students experience what it’s like to secure investors and donors for their vision.

What is CUInnovate?

CUInnovate has three rounds of judging: an in-class presentation, a second round with judges and a final formal round with judges. The winners walk away with cash prizes.

The competition provides a platform for developing students’ creativity and vision. CUInnovate invites all Concordia-Chicago students (all levels) to apply their creative entrepreneurial acumen to develop and share their innovative ideas for a new business or nonprofit.

No financial or formal business plans are needed, just a great idea that solves a problem or harnesses an opportunity with serious market potential! The aim of the competition is to incentivize students to take steps toward creating their career by taking a risk and presenting their business idea to a panel of judges. Judges are drawn from successful entrepreneurs at Innovation DuPage, alumni and local business leaders. The CUInnovate competition takes place each year during the spring semester.

Entering CUInnovate

All CUC students are invited to compete. Contact Business@CUChicago.edu to learn how to apply.

Rounds and Evaluations 

Each team will demonstrate their basic business ideas in front of their peers and COB faculty members and staff. Each team will talk for three minutes to describe their business concept. The faculty and staff members offer feedback to the presenting teams to help them strengthen their concepts and presentations. All teams will perfect their presentation and enter Round II.

Each team will present their business ideas via PowerPoint (or similar) presentations. The round will consist of a five-minute presentation, then three minutes for Q&A from judges/audience. The top three teams will compete in Round III.

Each team will have 10 minutes to present their business idea to the judges. Then the judges will have 10 minutes to ask questions about the business idea. First, Second and Third place positions will be announced at this event.

Other Opportunities to Get Involved

Volunteer coaches are community members who are entrepreneurs, business owners, and/or executives or university faculty members. The coaches are invited to attend each round of competition and are expected to meet with their teams at least two times between each round of competition. Once within a week of the previous round and once closer to the next round to help their team prepare. Coaches will have access to the judging rubrics and will bring their wealth of business world knowledge to their teams.

Are you interested in being a coach? Email Business@CUChicago.edu to get involved.

This event would not be able to exist without its generous sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact the Concordia University Chicago Foundation office: Foundation@CUChicago.edu and please copy Business@CUChicago.edu. Due to University regulations, all prize monies must be donated.

The first round is judged by Concordia-Chicago faculty. The second and final rounds are judged by entrepreneurs and executives. Companies who provide sponsorship to the competition are invited to send a judge for the second and/or third rounds. If you meet these requirements and are interested in judging, please contact Business@CUChicago.edu.