Baylor Business Launches Nation’s First AI-Entrepreneurship Challenge
Baylor University's Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, home of the Hankamer School of Business. (Matthew Minard/Baylor University)
Contact: Russell Rankin, Hankamer School of Business, 254-710-7628
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Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business announced today the launch of a groundbreaking student competition designed to spark creative business ventures powered by artificial intelligence.
The AI Venture Challenge invites undergraduate students enrolled at Baylor to team up and pitch bold, tech-driven solutions to real consumer problems. The competition seeks to uncover the next generation of entrepreneurs who can integrate AI tools such as chatbots, facial recognition and digital assistants into viable business ideas that meet market demand.
“We set out to design an experience for students at the crossroads of innovation, entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence,” said David M. Szymanski, Ph.D., The William E. Crenshaw Endowed Dean of the Hankamer School of Business. “This competition is not just about the tech; it’s about using it purposefully. We want students to think critically and creatively about how AI can drive real-world value in a competitive setting not seen in any other institution in the United States.”
The format of the competition will take place over two rounds: Teams of one to three students will submit an online executive summary submission. Those making the cut to the next round will give an in-person pitch presentation to a panel of leading executives. Cash prizes totaling $5,000 will be given to the top three finishers.
“We believe this first-of-its-kind challenge sets a precedent for blending entrepreneurial learning with cutting-edge technology,” Szymanski said. “We’re excited to see the bold ideas our students bring forward that continue to define the Hankamer School of Business as a premier institution.”
The AI Venture Challenge is an outgrowth of the Business School’s implementation of the University’s Baylor in Deeds strategic plan, particularly its imperative on the Human-Technology Interface. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and other technologies, Baylor is uniquely positioned to address the challenges at the intersection of faith, ethics, humanities, education and research. The University’s commitment is to prepare students to be fully human and guided by moral, intellectual and spiritual virtues as they live and work in a world increasingly more reliant on the ability to team with technology.
More details about the AI Venture Challenge will be released soon.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.
ABOUT THE HANKAMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business strives to further God’s kingdom through the realm of business, using God-given gifts and academic talents to do so. Faculty and students conduct purposeful research and participate in experiential learning opportunities, all while operating in a Christ-centered mission. Undergraduate students can choose from 13 major areas of study. Graduate students can earn their MBA on their terms, either through the full-time, online or a Dallas-based executive program. The Business School also offers three Ph.D. programs in Information Systems, Entrepreneurship or Health Services Research. The School’s top-ranked programs make up approximately 25% of the University’s total enrollment. Visit the Hankamer School of Business website for more information.