Startup Weekend in Western Kansas brought together 31 individuals to pitch ideas, create teams and to turn those ideas into businesses. The College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Fort Hays State hosted the first-ever Startup Weekend on November 15th through the 17th on the FHSU Campus.

Teams worked Friday evening to Sunday evening to put together their ideas and then FHSU faculty, alumni and local business owners provided input, suggestions and advice as the teams created their business plans.

Teams then presented their ideas before a panel of judges, made up of local and regional business leaders. The top three teams were…

1st – Mobile Mouse

An application to make any smart phone a point and click mouse for presentations

2nd – Equance

A line of high-end horse-tack jewelry for horse owners

3rd – Wilson’s All American Grill

A gourmet food truck serving Hays and other college venues

The College of Business and Entrepreneurship will host another event in April 2014 and hopes to grow the event to include participants from across western Kansas.