Faculty representatives at the Global Entrepreneur Partnership build partnerships during the weeklong event.
Faculty representatives at the Global Entrepreneur Partnership build partnerships during the weeklong event.

Student teams and faculty representing 14 institutions from 12 countries will compete, learn, collaborate, and build networks Aug. 22-31 at the 10th annual Virginia Tech Global Entrepreneur Partnership. 

Hosted by Outreach and International Affairs and VT KnowledgeWorks, the program will offer two tracks: one tailored to students and another to faculty. Students will explore resources for entrepreneurs, insights on starting up a business, and considerations of expanding into new markets. During the Global Annual Roundtable, faculty discuss entrepreneurship support programs and innovations at their institutions. Global university partners also will have time to explore  partnership possibilities.

Lindsey Eversole, global partnership manager at VT KnowledgeWorks, said, “The Global Entrepreneur Partnership brings together great minds and strong university partners that meet and work together building their social and academic relationships with each other.”

This year’s 14 participating university partners are:

 “The Global Entrepreneur Challenge allows student teams to pitch their business ideas for a $25,000 grand prize, encouraging their entrepreneurial endeavors and giving them the opportunity to test their concept on a world stage,” Eversole said.

Members of the Virginia Tech community and Roanoke-Blacksburg region are invited to observe the presentations in Holtzman Alumni Center at The Inn at Virginia Tech & Skelton Conference Center on Aug. 29. A private awards banquet and ceremony will be held that evening to announce the winning teams.

"The Global Entrepreneur Challenge is an amazing experience for any international student and aspiring entrepreneur. It's a recognized program from my home region in Europe and provided a 'stamp of approval' for my business," said Steven Rüttimann, founder of Blockflyer and finalist of the 2018 Global Entrepreneur Challenge and student representative of ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland.

Student teams will present their business concepts for $45,000 in cash prizes, sponsored by Virginia Tech’s Outreach and International Affairs, The Branch Group Inc., Carilion Clinic, and First Piedmont Corp. 

Other event sponsors include:

Program support sponsors include:

For more information contact Lindsey Eversole, global partnership manager, at leversole@vt.edu.

Written by Lindsey Eversole