Campus News

UGA Bulldog Sustainopreneurship Challenge planned

Athens, Ga. – University of Georgia students can explore their innovative spirit during the Bulldog Sustainopreneurship Challenge during Entrepreneurial Week, March 22-29.

Entrepreneurial Week is part of Thinc. at UGA, a new initiative that brings together entrepreneurship experts from industry and academia with faculty, alumni, students and members of the local community in Athens and across the state. The weeklong celebration includes lectures, workshops, panel discussions, competitions and networking events that promise to engage, inspire and build the confidence that will help take business ideas from concepts to reality.

The contest challenges students to spend several days creating as much value as possible from tailgating trash, a familiar waste issue at UGA. Students will have from Tuesday, March 19, until noon on Monday, March 25, to design a sustainable solution using the materials and present the idea in a three-minute video submission. Videos must be uploaded to YouTube and a link provided on the entry form, available at http://thinc.uga.edu/event/?ee=46. Individuals or teams may enter.

Materials commonly found left behind by UGA’s nearly 100,000 football fans, which may be included in the solution, are plastic cups, plastic and glass bottles, aluminum cans, aluminum trays, Styrofoam coolers, tents, grills, tables, clothing, food waste, plates, utensils, charcoal and metal, folding or camping chairs.

Judges will score the entries and recognize winners on Tuesday, March 26, during the social entrepreneurship Thinc. Tank roundtable lunch to be held in Dogwood Hall of the Georgia Center. Judges will evaluate the projects based on creativity, innovation, sustainability and feasibility.

The point of the challenge is to be innovative and creative. Traditional recycling bins and other collection methods are currently part of UGA’s recycling plan. Successful completion of the challenges requires creativity, teamwork, execution and value creation.

The contest was adapted from Stanford University’s Innovation Tournament, a competition led by the Stanford Technology Ventures Program.

Information about all of the events taking place during Entrepreneurial Week is available at http://www.thinc.uga.edu.