Missouri S&T students with entrepreneurial ideas can advance their concepts and win prize money by participating in the Entrepreneur Quest (EQ) Student Accelerator, a University of Missouri System competition.

The “shark tank” style EQ Student Accelerator program offers award money for high-ranking teams, ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 based on how far students go in the competition. Missouri S&T’s top three teams will advance to a systemwide competition after earning high finishes in several rounds of campus-level competitions and reviews.

This year’s S&T program will be co-led by Dr. Michael Davis, associate professor of economics, and Dr. Chevy-Hanqing Fang, assistant professor of business and information technology. 

Undergraduate and graduate students from all majors may apply until Thursday, Nov. 7, with instructions provided at the EQ workshop. Business ideas can include products or services and be nonprofit or revenue generating.

In addition to financial awards, 10 semifinalists from each UM System campus — S&T, MU, UMKC and University of Missouri-St. Louis — will receive an eight-week business model and plan educational program; mentorship from executives, leaders, investors and subject matter experts; and opportunities to participate in pitch and demo competitions.

For additional information, visit the UM System site eq.umsystem.edu.