News & Announcements

Startup Vikes Offers Pathway for Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises

Four student businesses were awarded top prizes at Cleveland State University’s third annual Startup Vikes competition. The three-day “boot camp,” which ended Sunday, assists students in developing a business idea, forming teams, building prototypes and ultimately launching a business.

The winning firms received a cash infusion and prize packages, including time at local business accelerators. The top prize of $2,000 went to Avicenna Medical Technology, a medical software company developing smart scheduling solutions to increase health care efficiency and reduce costs. Second place was awarded to Vitay, a health food vending machine maker, and third place went to 3Rs Housing Development a mortgage company focused on low income housing. In addition, FairConnect, an interactive service that places interns with small businesses and start-ups won the social enterprise award.

“We are very proud of all of the businesses and social enterprises developed during Startup Vikes,” said Colette Hart, senior director for the Centers of Outreach and Engagement in CSU’s Monte Ahuja College of Business. “The weekend provides a pathway for entrepreneurship – one that we hope all of our teams will continue to pursue.”

“Cleveland State University is playing a central role in Cleveland’s entrepreneurship ecosystem,” said Shannon Lyons, executive vice president of FlashStarts and co-facilitator of Startup Vikes. “The level of participation from Cleveland State students, faculty and staff was fantastic and helped make for a great weekend.”