NAU-Yuma Hosts Successful Border Entrepreneurial Challenge, Showcasing Innovation and Collaboration Across Borders
YUMA, AZ – April 19-21, 2024 – Northern Arizona University’s Yuma campus proudly hosted the April 2024 Border Entrepreneurial Challenge (BEC), a platform for budding entrepreneurs and seasoned business minds alike to present their innovative ideas to a panel of investors and judges. The event was an exchange of entrepreneurial spirit, with participation from seventy-seven students and entrepreneurs from the United States and Mexico.
Representatives from eight institutions from both sides of the border, including Northern Arizona University (NAU), Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior University (CETYS), Grand Canyon University (GCU), Arizona State University (ASU), Universidad Estatal de Sonora (UES), San Diego State University (SDSU), Arizona Western College (AWC), and Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), showcased their passion and talent throughout the challenge.
The event was marked by enthusiastic support from twenty-five mentors, eighteen judges, and numerous local leaders, who gave the participating teams invaluable guidance and feedback.
Among the standout successes of the challenge were the following:
Track 1 Winning Student Team: Congratulations to Samuel Parker Boynton and Alfredo Ramirez from Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix, whose business idea earned them the coveted track 1 victory.
Track 2 Winning Entrepreneurial Team: Omar Holguin, representing Universidad Estatal de Sonora (UES), impressed the judges with his proposal titled “ADU Phoenix.” Omar’s proof of concept, showcasing the completion of additional dwelling units in San Luis Rio Colorado, demonstrated the potential for expansion into the Phoenix area.
Track 2 Entrepreneurial Runner-ups: MBA students from CETYS University showcased their app from SWIFT Carpentry that connects carpenters with customers, emphasizing quality and timely completion in Baja California.
Additional noteworthy proposals included:
- CORPURY, offers an app for translation services in the medical and legal fields, integrating AI and human translators.
- E-Money, targeting the Mexican market with an app providing personal financial advice.
- Nopal Snacks, an established Mexican business exploring expansion into the U.S. market with healthy snacks made from nopal.
Both organizations and investors provided invaluable support. Heartfelt thanks to our sponsors including Yuma Investment Group Wealth Management, Chapman Automotive Group, APS, WaFed Bank, and The Elliot Nelson Foundation. These partnerships not only benefit the winners but also foster innovation and growth within the community.
The BEC serves as an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration and innovation across borders. NAU-Yuma invites all students and local entrepreneurs to participate in the next BEC, scheduled for Spring 2025. For more information and updates on the BEC, visit the Department of Business Administration and Leadership’s website at https://nau.edu/yuma/departments/business-administration/.
As an ongoing effort, organizations and investors interested in funding future BEC winners please contact Dr. Monica Acosta Alvarado at Monica.Acosta-Alvarado@nau.edu, event coordinator, or Dr. Alex Steenstra, department chair. Join us in shaping the future of entrepreneurship!
From Conflict to Collaboration: Undergraduate Negotiation Competition Highlights
Northern Arizona University was honored to host the Undergraduate Negotiation Competition on April 5-6, 2024. This premier event, exclusively tailored for undergraduate students, highlighted NAU’s dedication to cultivating educational excellence and equipping students with vital skills for success in today’s competitive world.
Participants from all over the country and as far away as South Korea came to negotiate with one another in simulated business transactions and real-world case studies. Competitors showcased their ability to navigate complexities and forge mutually beneficial agreements. Local judges included full-time and part-time faculty, business executives, and entrepreneurs.
Additionally, the sponsoring consulting firm BDO sent Jonathan Hughes to serve as a judge and recruit participants for future job openings. Most prominently, Luis Soto, a renowned negotiation expert and Latin American Head of The Maker Group joined as a keynote speaker and judge for the event.
Other memorable elements of the event included the introductory remarks from President Jose Luis Cruz Rivera and a round of competition dedicated to utilizing artificial intelligence in negotiation led by Niraj Kumar, founder of the platform idecisiongames.com. Phoenix, AZ, also made history as the first metropolitan host city for this prestigious competition, previously only offered in Waco, TX.
Students took advantage of the opportunity to network with industry professionals, engage in enriching discussions, and receive valuable feedback from seasoned practitioners. Baylor University winners and Grand Canyon University runners-up were awarded trophies and cash prizes. NAU’s own Annalisa Hansen was also named Best Individual Negotiator!
NAU Business Blog 