Big Idea Kearney

big idea kearney logo Congratulations to the 2024 Big Idea Contest winners!

The winners are:

  • First Place: Alexis Bernthal with Physpeak
  • Second Place: Zion Moyer with Roaming Greens Mini Golf
  • Third Place: Jessica Vettel with Create Wildly

View A highlight reel from this year's event

About Big Idea

Do you have Big Idea? Is it the next big business, product, or service? Or does your idea solve a problem

Spearheaded by Cultivate Student Organization and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the competition is designed to foster and showcase the innovative business and product ideas emerging from our talented pool of UNK students as well as from the wider community.

Ideas are submitted in advance, narrowed down to a group of finalists, and ideas are pitched LIVE in front of an audience and panel of judges. Pitches must be 2 minutes or less. Each pitch is followed by a Q&A.

Top ideas will win access and discounts to key resources, business coaching and planning services, and startup money to launch their business in Kearney!

The contest is open to UNK students and Kearney area community members. Participants under 18 years of age will require parental consent.

 

Prizes

The top 10 finalists, as determined by our panel of expert judges, will have the opportunity to present their ideas during a live pitch event on March 5th at Legacy on the Bricks in downtown Kearney. Cash prizes of $2,000, $1,000, and $500 will be awarded for first, second, and third places respectively to the live pitch winners. Additionally, a prize will be awarded for “People’s Choice.” All finalists receive something including gift bags, access to professional services, and startup cash! Plus, the networking and connections received at this event are invaluable.

Big Idea is sponsored by

dcbc logo CBT Logo  allo logo   invest nebraska logo nebraska enterprise fund logo  nutech logo   

Event Sponsors

Event sponsors support Big Idea Kearney and make pitch night possible. Thank you to these sponsors for elevating the event for Big Idea. Email Sara at bennettsa2@unk.edu to become an Event Sponsor.

Professional Partners

Professional Partners are committing free or discounted services to the Top 5 finalists. These services can include, but are not limited to the following: business planning, legal, accounting, marketing, insurance, and branding & design. For paid services, we will limit professional partners to one business per industry. When you become a Professional Partner, you are offering free and discounted services to the Top 5 only, but we will recommend your services to all Big Idea Kearney finalists. Email Sara at bennettsa2@unk.edu  to become a Professional Partner.

jacobsen o r r logo      nebraska enterprise fund logo   kacc stacked logo  logo for countryman associates  farmers insurance logo

murray marketing logo

Contact

Sara Bennett, Cultivate Faculty Co-Advisor
Director, Center for Entrepreneurship & Rural Development
bennettsa2@unk.edu
308-865-8199