Visionary student ventures from across the country are invited to compete for a $100,000 grand prize to further their new technology innovations
Avnet (NYSE: AVT),
a leading global technology distributor, in partnership with Arizona
State University (ASU) and the Ira
A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, are accepting applications for the
2018 ASU Innovation Open (ASUio), a multi-round competition that
supports student ventures from across the United States in driving
technology innovation and entrepreneurship. Students will compete for a
grand prize of $100,000 to continue development of ventures powered by
new hardware technologies. Interested teams should apply online
and will be accepted through October 29, 2017.
“There’s no doubt that the students of today will shape the world of
tomorrow. Avnet is delighted to continue its partnership with Arizona
State University to support student innovations and drive the future of
technology. The ASU Innovation Open underscores our commitment to
supporting entrepreneurs and startups, big and small, through every
stage of the product lifecycle,” said MaryAnn Miller, senior vice
president, chief human resources officer, and global marketing &
communications for Avnet. “The ASU Innovation Open is designed to
provide enterprising students from across the country with experiences
they can take with them through their careers, and we could not be more
thrilled to see the ventures they are developing.”
“The Innovation Open is a terrific example of ASU’s commitment to
supporting entrepreneurship in all of its forms,” said Fulton Schools of
Engineering Dean Kyle Squires. “The success of last year’s inaugural
competition was due in large part to the leadership and commitment
of Avnet, along with other dedicated sponsors and ASU colleagues. We are
looking forward to drawing an even broader range of competitors as we
move forward.”
The ASUio is open to all current university students from any academic
discipline. Submissions must include a five-minute video pitch that
discusses the problem solved by the team’s technology, as well as the
overall competitive landscape, business model and team makeup.
The ASUio will take place in three rounds:
-
First Round: All applicants will be evaluated by entrepreneur
judges with entries narrowed to 15 semi-finalists who will advance to
the next round.
-
Semi-Finals: On December 9, 2017, semi-finalists will present
their projects in person before a select panel of expert judges at ASU
SkySong in Scottsdale, Ariz. Five finalists will be selected to
advance to the finals.
-
Finals: Finalists will deliver in-person pitches before a panel
of judges during the Final Demo Day at the Waste Management Phoenix
Open on February 2, 2018, in Scottsdale, Ariz. In addition, finalists
will get to participate in a VIP experience. One student venture will
be awarded the $100,000 grand prize.
For more information on the ASUio, to submit an application, or for the
list of rules, please visit www.winasu.io.
Click
to tweet: Innovators start your engines. Applications for
@Avnet-backed 2018 @ASU Innovation Open now online at www.winasu.io
http://bit.ly/1ll33LR
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About Avnet
From idea to design and from prototype to production, Avnet supports
customers at each stage of a product’s lifecycle. A comprehensive
portfolio of design and supply chain services makes Avnet the go-to
guide for innovators who set the pace for technological change. For
nearly a century, Avnet has helped its customers and suppliers around
the world realize the transformative possibilities of technology. Learn
more about Avnet at: www.avnet.com.
About the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University
include more than 20,300 students and more than 330 faculty members who
conduct more than $100 million in annual research, spanning a broad
range of engineering, construction and technology fields. Our six
schools offer 25 undergraduate and 39 graduate programs on ASU’s Tempe
and Polytechnic campuses and online. The schools’ research and
educational programs emphasize problem solving, entrepreneurship,
multidisciplinary interactions, social context and connections.
Avnet
Maureen O’Leary, 480-643-7499
Maureen.OLeary@avnet.com
or
Arizona State University
Terry Grant, 480-727-4058
Theresa.Grant@asu.edu
or
Brodeur Partners, for Avnet
Jamie Ernst, 480-308-0286
jernst@brodeur.com