CU Entrepreneurs - The History of the Society

Since its foundation in 1999 Coventry University Entrepreneurs has developed into a thriving student society with strong support and financial backing from the local business community.

CU Entrepreneurs was modelled on the highly successful MIT $50K competition which has generated enormous enthusiasm and led to the creation of over 60 companies with an aggregate value of $10.5 billion.

It is still early days for CU Entrepreneurs but we have already seen 12 firms created and there are more on the way.
 

Progress:

Jun 1999 Team established to set up competition
 8 blue-chip sponsors signed-up
Aug 1999 £30K Competition Go-ahead - Publicity commenced
Oct 1999 Recruitment and Launch - 600 recruited in 3 days
 Training commenced
Jan 2000 £1K Competition launched
Mar 2000 Prizes of £15K, £10K, £5K and £1K awarded
Jun 2000 £50K Competition Go-ahead
Oct 2000 52 50K Submissions / 50 1K Submissions
Mar 2001 Prizes of £15K, £12.5K, £10K, £7.5k, £5K and 6 x £1K
Apr 2001 Founding team handed over for 2001/2002
 Sep 2001 New events
May 2002 Prizes of £15K, £12.5K, £10K, £7.5K and 5 x £1K
June 2002 Brand new committee and change of name: CU Entrepreneurs
Sep 2002 New sponsors and training now done by CEC