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
Aug. 10
Students can start submitting Entrepreneur Quest applications.
Sept. 3
Applications are due by 5 p.m.
Sept. 11
Top 15 applicants are notified that they are semifinalists.
Sept. 22, 4-7 p.m., Monsanto Auditorium, Bond Life Sciences Center
Semifinalists compete in a pitch competition. Each has three minutes to pitch their venture followed by two minutes of Q&A. A panel of judges chooses 10 finalists with the most scalable ventures. The audience favorite wins $2,000.
Sept. 24
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.
Nov. 17, 4-7 p.m., Monsanto Auditorium, Bond Life Sciences Center
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 2027.
- 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.