UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

The University of Texas at Tyler Announces Patriot Business Plan Competition

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March 21, 2017

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

The University of Texas at Tyler will hold the inaugural Patriot Business Plan Competition, Dr. James Lumpkin, College of Business and Technology dean, announced.

The competition is open to all The University of Texas at Tyler students and Tyler residents, competing in separate tracks. It is sponsored by the college's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute and City of Tyler Innovation Pipeline.

Successful teams can win monetary support for business development, incubator space and mentorship assistance. Initial entries will include a five-minute or less YouTube video explaining, demonstrating or otherwise showing how an idea or business solves a need or is innovative, with details about the idea or product. Video submission deadline is Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.

"Start your planning today! We are looking forward to a great event that will benefit the City of Tyler and The University of Texas at Tyler," said Dr. Kevin James, assistant professor of marketing and event coordinator.

Judges will evaluate all videos, and advancing teams from the first round will have the opportunity to work with a mentor to refine the pitch in preparation for finals, James added.

Advancing teams will go on to present their business plan at finals to be held Friday, March 23, 2018 at The University of Texas at Tyler. Judges will select winners based on presentation.

For additional information, contact James, kjames@uttyler.edu.

The University of Texas at Tyler Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute, or EI2, serves as the focal point of entrepreneurship education, research and outreach within the college and across the university and business community.

Addressing all aspects of entrepreneurship, EI2 will have a special focus on women and minority entrepreneurs. The institute supports all The University of Texas at Tyler disciplines as well as entrepreneurs and innovators outside the university by providing the business expertise necessary to bring product ideas and businesses to market and grow existing businesses.

One of the 14 campuses of the UT System, The University of Texas at Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at The University of Texas at Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 10,000 high-ability students. The University of Texas at Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.