Jeff Hoffman, co-founder of Priceline.com, to give keynote, judge at CSU Blue Ocean biz pitch event

By: InnovatioNews Wednesday May 6, 2015 0 comments Tags: Fort Collins, Jeff Hoffman, Christine Chin, CSU Blue Ocean Enter

FORT COLLINS -- Jeff Hoffman, a successful serial entrepreneur who has been part of startups that include Priceline.com, uBid.com, CTI and ColorJar, will give the keynote address at the second annual Colorado State University Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge on May 30.

Hoffman will also serve as a judge for the Challenge – one of the nation’s richest business pitch competitions with a grand prize of $250,000.

“We are thrilled to have Jeff help evaluate our Enterprise competitors,” said Christine Chin, interim director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship in CSU’s College of Business, which is co-sponsoring the Challenge.

“We are even more delighted that he will be our featured speaker. His amazing experience as a serial entrepreneur, senior executive, motivational speaker and producer of both Hollywood films and a Grammy-winning jazz album, will provide our competitors and anyone who attends his talk with valuable business and life lessons.”

Hoffman will be joined on the judging panel by high-profile entrepreneurs and experts who will decide which companies go on to the next level of completion.

The keynote event takes place at 3 p.m. on May 30 in the Lory Student Center Ballroom on the CSU campus, followed immediately by the $250K Challenge.

A total of 28 companies – 13 from Colorado universities and 15 from established startups from five states and representing 15 industries – have been selected to compete in the Challenge.

The Collegiate Challenge takes place on May 27 for a prize of $20,000, a year’s business mentoring and a chance to compete in the $250K pitch competition on May 30.

The Challenge events are free but registration is required at blueoceanchallenge.com. 

About the Author: InnovatioNews

InnovatioNews is an online news magazine spotlighting innovative companies, products and people in Colorado. Launched in June of 2012, the site is the recipient of multiple awards.