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The annual �鶹��ý Business Idea Competition (appropriately renamed Idea Olympics this year) recently launched with the opportunity to win $4,000 in cash awards. This competition is open to all Kent State students – undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. – regardless of major.

“For this year’s competition, we particularly identified with the theme of the Olympics since Blackstone LaunchPad serves Kent State students, faculty, staff and alumni across all majors, disciplines and campuses,” says Zach Mikrut, marketing manager for Kent State’s Blackstone LaunchPad. “The competition offers the opportunity to win not only money for your business-related idea, but also reap the benefit of resources and connections that can propel your idea forward.”

The winner of the Kent State Idea Olympics competition will advance to the Entrepreneurship Education Consortium’s ideaLabs, a regional competition consisting of 11 Northeast Ohio member universities. 

Applicants with any entrepreneurial idea, including concepts related to a for-profit or nonprofit venture, are welcome to apply. The deadline for the competition is Feb. 20. Selected finalists will present their concept in front of judges on Feb. 27. This event is free and open to the public. For more information on how to register or attend the event, visit .

Kent State’s Blackstone LaunchPad promotes entrepreneurship as a viable career path. Through mentoring, workshops and events and connecting entrepreneurs to resources, Blackstone LaunchPad helps Kent State students, faculty, staff and alumni to create new startups or grow existing businesses in Northeast Ohio.