Get that pitch ready: Bronco Entrepreneur Challenge launches

Oliver MacDonald, a 2024 Bachelor of Science in Engineering Plus Robotics graduate and co-founder of QTex AI, making his winning pitch at the 2024 Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge. Bronco Entrepreneur Challenge winners will get automatic entry into the Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge

Have a million-dollar idea stashed in your notebook? Boise State is inviting all students to put their concepts to the test this November in the inaugural Bronco Entrepreneur Challenge. This new pitch event is a shark tank-style competition open to all Boise State student entrepreneurs in any field. Winners will receive a cash prize and automatic entry into the statewide Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge held in the spring.

A track for every idea

The competition will be run by the College of Business and Economics with support from the Venture College, which is part of the College of Innovation and Design. The competition is designed to be an easy access point for student entrepreneurs.

"We want students from anywhere across campus who have a business idea to be able to jump in without knowing all the business details," said Chad Coffman, assistant professor of entrepreneurship in the Department of Management. "For one of the competition tracks, all we require is a 90-second pitch of the idea. The competition is not a 'show up, the judges give you feedback, then you're done' situation. We wanted to make sure participants have help throughout the whole process. There are so many people on campus that can either help entrepreneurs directly or can connect them with someone who can. Between all of us, there's a huge network that doesn't get tapped into enough."

The competition features two tracks - the Early Stage: Idea Pitch Track for students with an early stage business idea who are still defining their product and market fit, and the Open Track Venture for students whose company already has market traction and a developed business model. Applications for both tracks include a 90-second video and one-page idea summary.

Interested students must submit their applications by Oct. 26, 2025. From there, 16 teams will be selected to advance in each track and will present their pitches at the competition events on Nov. 13-14.

A clear path from idea to launch

All 32 advancing teams will get pitch practice help from the Venture College, and those in the Traction Track will also be paired with a coach. Through the competition, participants will also have the opportunity to network with industry professionals and peers, connect with potential partners and mentors, and get plugged in to all the entrepreneurial opportunities offered at Boise State.

"We're hoping the competition will be an easy first step for the students who have been kicking around an idea and just want to get started," said Cara Van Sant, director of the Venture College. "From there, they can keep building-whether that's through the Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge, taking a class in the College of Business and Economics, or getting involved in Venture College offerings. Our Spring Incubator is a great next step."

Venture College's Incubator is a free, 10-week crash course in entrepreneurship for students and community members offered each spring and fall. The program helps participants validate their business ideas and launch with a target market and pricing model in place. Boise State students can participate as a two credit independent study course.

According to Coffman, the collaboration with Venture College aims to help students put the entrepreneurship pieces at the university together, including awareness about several specialized pitch competitions throughout the year focused on everything from technology to social impact to sustainability.

"College of Business students have been less involved than you would expect in Venture College programs in the past," Coffman said. "I think it's a combination of not knowing about it, or not finding out about it at a time that's useful. We're trying to integrate more of the program offerings across colleges so that students are getting all three parts of a great entrepreneurship experience: curriculum, programming and mentorship."

Van Sant says she hopes the partnership will continue the trend of entrepreneurship collaboration across campus and throughout the community.

"For Venture College and the College of Business and Economics, we're excited to keep building on our collaboration," she said. "Our goal is to make sure these programs connect and support each other, creating a clear path that takes students from idea to launch-while strengthening the entrepreneurial community right here at home."

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