Duquesne University’s Palumbo-Donahue School of Business announces the selection of five finalists for the 2023 – 2024 Duquesne New Venture Challenge (DNVC). Now in its fifth year, this national entrepreneurship competition has garnered attention for its commitment to fostering innovation and supporting early-stage startups.
"The 2023 – 2024 DNVC set records with more than 100 entries. Our 18 semifinalists
showcased compelling and innovative business ideas, making it challenging for the
judges to select five finalists,” says Dr. Dean McFarlin, dean of the Palumbo-Donahue
School of Business. "This year's finalists represent the best of a talented group
of entrepreneurs who have developed difference-making new ventures."
The finalist teams, listed alphabetically, are:
- Aquatonomy – applies robotics technologies to enable autonomous underwater safety inspections for infrastructure
- dashcam.bike – turns a smartphone into a high-quality bike camera to record rides and promote safety
- FlowCellutions – optimizes the longevity and efficiency of batteries through diagnostic solutions
- Revitalize Energy – creates energizing eye drops designed to alleviate eye strain and screen fatigue
- Velo AI - promotes situational awareness for cyclists using an audio and visual alert system.
All finalists will have access to the following as they complete their full business plans:
- Bob's Launch Pad, a makerspace with prototyping equipment in Duquesne's Center for Excellence in Entrepreneurship
- 15 free hours of consultation with an assigned mentor tailored to their specific business needs
- Free access to business plan software designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
"Making it to the finals was quite a feat for these teams," says Staci Offutt, director
of the Center for Excellence in Entrepreneurship. "The exceptional quality of the materials they submitted to this point shows how
a supported competitive environment can motivate and accelerate business development."
Finalists will present their business plans to a panel of judges on April 14, 2024.
Cash prizes totaling more than $40,000 will be awarded, with the top three teams receiving
additional benefits, including 10 hours of free legal education through Duquesne’s
Thomas R. Kline School of Law and five hours of free consulting services from Duquesne’s Small Business Development Center. The winner will be announced at a private awards reception in April.
Duquesne University
Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities
for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of more than
8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them
work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic
programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh
region have earned national acclaim.
It's time for bigger goals. Follow Duquesne University on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and LinkedIn.
www.duq.edu
News Information