Entrepreneur Quest Student Accelerator

Entrepreneur Quest has invested $261,000 in student businesses since 2018. Winners from 2025: 1st place, Rgent, an AI-powered assistant for coding and analysis in RStudio developed by Nathan Bresette (2nd from left); 2nd place, AcreView Analytics, financial tools for farmers developed by Noah Graham (far right); and third place, Sencare Medical Solutions, gloves for people with eczema invented by Chinyere Omeife (far left); and Vital Track, a wearable-based health tracking platform created by Dane Bishop, Ted Krause, Harley Whitaker and Brock Schofield.
 

About

Entrepreneur Quest (EQ) is an opportunity for any full-time Mizzou student to create a new venture. EQ provides the workshops, tools, networking, mentoring and a $30,000 prize pool to help you translate your ideas and side hustles into viable and scalable businesses. Work with like-minded peers, immerse yourself in the startup world and receive coaching from successful entrepreneurs. 

Program

Academic year 2026-27

September

• Application deadline
• Semifinalists compete in an elevator pitch competition before a panel of judges who choose 10 finalists with the most scalable ventures. The audience favorite receives $2,000.
• Ten finalists are notified of acceptance into the EQ program.

September, October and November

• The finalists participate in EQ's education program and receive mentoring from entrepreneurial leaders, innovators and other experts.
• Judges award seed funding to three teams for their ventures during EQ's final pitch competition.
• Winners receive a lump sum investment along with the opportunity to win additional funding (called an earnout) if they achieve jointly agreed upon milestones by May 2026.
  • First place: $10,000 with an additional $5,000 earnout
  • Second place: $6,000 with an additional $4,000 earnout
  • Third place: $3,000 with an additional $2,000 earnout

EQ is sponsored by Hawthorn Bank, the U.S. Bank Foundation and the employees of Veterans United Home Loans.