Cleveland State University student developers, designers, marketers, inventors, entrepreneurs and startup enthusiasts will have the opportunity to share ideas, form teams, build prototypes and launch a business, all within the span of a single weekend at the sixth annual Startup Vikes competition.

The event runs Friday, February 21st through Sunday, February 23rd in CSU’s Student Center Ballroom.

Startup Vikes begins with pitches, voting for the top ideas and team formation. A series of workshops and individual mentors then guide participants through business modeling, customer development, branding, financial models and pitching to investors. To date 23 companies have been formed as a direct result of the event.

A cash infusion and prize package are awarded to the top three businesses during the weekend.

“Startup Vikes provides a pathway for entrepreneurship while engaging students beyond the classroom,” said Colette Hart, senior director of the Centers for Outreach and Engagement in CSU’s Monte Ahuja College of Business. “We are so pleased that this year, due to the generosity of our sponsors, we can offer students scholarships to attend at no charge.”

Students can register at www.startupvikes.com.