CSU Blue Ocean Challenge now national Capital Championship in June

Tuesday March 8, 2016 Tags: Fort Collins, Capital Championship, CSU Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge, CSU Ventures, CSU Institute for Entrepreneurship, CSU Collegiate Challenge

FORT COLLINS -- The Colorado State University Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge has been transformed into a national entrepreneurial tournament called the  Capital Championship.

Created in 2013 by CSU and Fort Collins-based Blue Ocean Enterprises, the Blue Ocean Challenge offered $250,000 in prize money to the top startup company pitching its business model.

The Capital Championship will continue to offer $250,000 to the winner of the competition but has been expanded to engage a wider audience of entrepreneurs, business professionals and venture capitalists, organizers said.

Applications for regional semifinals are now open through March 27 with one winner from each of six regions advancing to the national event June 8-10 in Los Angeles.

A regional semifinal competition is slated for Denver on April 23.

Entrepreneurs can also apply to compete in the national finals online now through April 30.

Sponsors include HP, OtterBox, 1^st Bank, EKS&H, Hogan Lovells, City of Fort Collins, EY, Flood and Peterson and MB Law.

For more information, call 970-419-7451 or visit CapitalChampionship.com.

CSU’s Institute for Entrpreneurship and CSU Ventures will continue to host the third annual Colorado State University Collegiate Challenge on April 27.

The day features a $20,000 business pitch competition for student entrepreneurs from universities across the mountain region. The winner will advance to the Capital Championship regional competition and a chance to compete in the national finals.