The campus field guide
Minnesota State University, Mankato
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Inside this ecosystem · 2 linked sources
Minnesota State University, Mankato supports student ventures through the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the College of Business. The center's published student funding route is the Big Ideas Challenge.
Include. Mankato has a center and a current student venture competition with published prizes. because the prize scale is smaller than the state's flagship programs.
How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-10-08); what those sources do not state is left unknown.
At a glance
Indexed programs
2
All currently active
Top direct funding
$3,000
Big Ideas Challenge
Equity
Equity terms unknown
Program mix
2
Pitch Competition · Entrepreneurship Center
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
2 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
Big Ideas Challenge
Pitch Competition$3,000
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-10-08
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Alumni
- Verification
- Partially Verified
Entrepreneurship Center
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship Center—
funding range
- Last activity
- —
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Alumni
- Verification
- Partially Verified
From students
Be the first student from Minnesota State University, Mankato to post a startup.
Post a startupFunding and Equity
The 2026 awards page lists $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second, $1,000 for third, and $1,000 for people's choice. First place also becomes an automatic student semifinalist in Minnesota Cup. Equity terms are not stated.
Recent Activity
The 2026 timeline says applications opened August 24 and were due September 27, with a live pitch on November 18.
Known Startups and Winners
Named winners were not published on the official pages captured for this listing.
Research gaps & things to verify
Missing Information
- Equity terms are not stated.
- Past winner names were not on the captured pages.
- The live-pitch year is established by the page title '2026 Big Ideas Challenge timeline.'
More about this ecosystem
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato supports student ventures through the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the College of Business. The center's published student funding route is the Big Ideas Challenge.
This page is a researched public listing compiled from official university sources. It is unclaimed and has not been verified by the school.
News & articles
2 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
2 sources
Official sources(2)
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Big Ideas Challenge
The Big Ideas Challenge is a new-venture competition for innovative business ideas. Students submit an application, write a business plan, and pitch. Mentors include the Small Business Development Center.
Read on Minnesota State University, Mankato
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship says it supports the launch of student ideas through mentoring and training. Resources include coaches, the Big Ideas Challenge, and connections to other competitions.
Read on Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato has a public page built from sources. If a detail is wrong, students still see it.
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