And if the company gets equity funding, they can get stock in the company. Roberts says the students will be forced to grapple with growth projections, and financial estimates, and be ready to withstand the scrutiny of potential investors. Their going have to stand up in front of a group of very savvy, real investors, not a panel of judges, not a panel of faculty, but a panel of real investors, and make a pitch, and an analysis of this entrepreneur's idea, and for it's capital needs. That's a very demanding sophisticated job. And to learn how to do that well, is a great art.
Students have a chance to chose from a pretty wide range of projects.
At a reception after the main presentations, students got a chance to mingle with the entrepreneurs. The start- up company has been growing rapidly, and one might think they'd want some professionals to help them, not just a group of students. They all come in with firm handshakes, and impressive credentials, and many of them don't do the real work. And so I'm more comfortable using a lower cost resource, which is much less risky. And, you know, bright ideas can come from anybody.