Chapman University hosts California Dreamin’ Investor and Fast Pitch Business Plan Competition with $215,000 in prize money, and connection to Venture Capital firms

ORANGE, CA – The California Dreamin competition, now in its third year at Chapman University, brings together students from top university entrepreneur programs around the country to prove that they have the best business plan. The event is by invitation only – 28 schools will send a team to the competition April 26 and 27 to compete for $215,000 in prize money and connection to venture capital firms.

There are two competitions and multiple ways to win, including an investor pitch and a 90-second Fast Pitch Competition. The first round of the investor pitch, Fast Pitch coaching session and an evening reception will be held on Friday, April 26. The second and final round of the Investor Pitch and Fast Pitch presentations will be held on Saturday, April 27 followed by an awards banquet.

New features to this year’s competitions include: pre-competition webinars with investors and judges, fast pitch coaching sessions, Fast pitch competition, one-on-one feedback with investors, awards banquet on Saturday evening and more opportunities to win.

“California Dreamin’ has become the premier university pitch competition including all of the top business schools in the West,” said Richard Sudek, Ph.D., director of the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics at Chapman University. “This competition is designed to connect student to investors; last year our winner received equity financing within 60 days of the competition from one of our judges.”

Participating universities include:

Arizona State University
Baylor University
Brigham Young University
CalTech
Chapman University
Claremont McKenna
Colorado University
CSU Fullerton
CSU San Bernardino
Loyola Marymount University
Oklahoma State University
Pepperdine University
Stanford University
Texas Christian University
UC Berkeley
University of Arizona
University of Hawaii
University of Houston
UC Irvine
UCLA
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
USC
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara
University of Texas
University of Utah
University of Washington
Willamette

Sponsors include: Microsemi, Kay Family Foundation, Ora Zoe Villalobos, Amazon Web Services, Stephen Block, City National Bank, Constantine Ventures, LLC, Dynamic Construction Services, Inc., Investments Inc., Find the Best, Gale and Vallance Corporate Lawyers, HaynesBoone, Pamela & Andrew Horowitz Trust, Hans Imhoff, Marcum, MFLEX, Newport Investment Associates, PriceWaterhouseCooper, Questcor, Rental Office Centers, Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Stradling and VIZIO.

More information can be found at: http://www.chapman.edu/research-and-institutions/leatherby-center/business-plan-competitions/Cali-dreaming-business-plan-competition/index.aspx
For questions contact Nicole Cooper at (714) 744-7870 or ncooper@chapman.edu

About the Ralph W. Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Ethics
Established in 1995, Chapman University’s Leatherby Center offers one of the nation’s most respected programs for entrepreneurial young men and women. The center aims to prepare and inspire principled, dynamic entrepreneurs whose ideas improve lives and solve important problems. Through innovative courses and real-world leadership, the center provides students with access to a range of resources, including professional mentoring, entrepreneurial internships, a multi-university network, community resources, events, speakers, research, professional groups, competitions and boot camps. Ranked as the #6 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program by Business Week, the Leatherby Center is unique in its approach to connecting students with inventors, investors and real-world entrepreneurs. For more information, visit www.chapman.edu/launch

Consistently ranked among the top universities in the West, Chapman University provides a uniquely personalized and interdisciplinary educational experience to highly qualified students. Our programs encourage innovation, creativity and collaboration, and focus on developing global citizen-leaders who are distinctively prepared to improve their community and their world. Visit www.chapman.edu
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