As Fairfield University has moved to online learning in order to “flatten the curve” and keep all Stags safe and healthy in response to the coronavirus, StartUp Showcase teams continue to collaborate online with their mentors, local entrepreneurs, and StartUp Program Director Chris Huntley, PhD, to finalize their pitches.

While this year’s live entrepreneurship competition is canceled, the format for the Showcase will transform into an online video series that will be released on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at fairfield.edu/startup. The videos will document each team’s journey, showcase the excitement as teams make their pitches through video conferencing, and reveal feedback from the investors. As in previous years, the stakes are high for seed money. The public will be asked to watch the videos and vote for the audience favorite. The winner of the Audience Favorite Award, sponsored by CTNext/CI, will receive an additional $1,000.

“This year has been a test of perseverance and ingenuity,” said Dr. Huntley. “I am proud that we have figured out a way to take the StartUp Showcase online, to continue Fairfield’s annual tradition of celebrating entrepreneurship. While we will all miss the live event at the Quick Center, this online format will allow us to try new things that could make the Showcase even better next year. And, of course, our student teams are more than up to the challenge.”

Stay tuned for more news about the StartUp Showcase and save the date: Wednesday, April 29, 2020, to watch the Showcase video series and vote for the audience favorite at fairfield.edu/startup.