Instructional Leadership, emphasis: K-12 School Leadership (MEd)
Students talking with an advisor outside at the NAU–Yuma campus

April 2024 Border Entrepreneurial Challenge


The Border Entrepreneurial Challenge (BEC) 2024 will take place April 19–21, 2024, at the AWC/NAU–Yuma campus in Yuma, Arizona, with participants from Mexico and the United States. The purpose is for interested students, college and university alumni, and entrepreneurs to have the opportunity to work with binational teams to pitch new entrepreneurial ideas or expand their existing entrepreneurial projects to a binational panel of judges.

The BEC will give you the opportunity to present your business ideas to potential investors by interacting with different participants from the border region, listening to experts from different entrepreneurial fields, having guided working sessions with mentors, and competing with your team or entrepreneurial idea to gain a spot on the final presentation.

Types of registration tracks

Track 1: Students

Graduate and undergraduate students

Purpose/Objectives

  • The participants in this track will have the opportunity to create and develop a Business Model Canvas and perform a public presentation pitching their entrepreneurial ideas.
  • They will practice and improve specific skills and abilities such as communication and negotiation skills, teamwork, and networking.
  • They will have the opportunity to present their business ideas to potential investors.

Participation days

Friday (online)

Saturday & Sunday (in-person)

Deliverables

Business Model Canvas

Pitch

First round

All teams present their Business Model Canvas and pitch to judges for the opportunity to pitch in the final round.

Final round

Top 3 pitches

Track 2: Alumni/Entrepreneurs

Alumni, entrepreneurs, community

Purpose/Objectives

The participants in this track will have the opportunity to develop their Business Plan for their preconceived business idea and present their pitch to potential investors.

Participation days

Saturday & Sunday (in-person)

Deliverables

Business Model Canvas

Business plan

Pitch

First round

All participants present their Business Model Canvas, business plan, and pitch to judges for the opportunity to pitch in the final round.

Final round

Top 2 pitches

Track 3: Active Business Owners

Active business owners

Purpose/Objectives

The participants in this track will have the opportunity to develop their acceleration/expansion plan and present it to potential investors.

Participation days

Saturday & Sunday (in-person)

Deliverables

Business Model Canvas

Business plan

Financial executive report

First round

All participants present their Business Model Canvas, business plan, and pitch to judges for the opportunity to pitch in the final round.

Final round

Top 2 pitches

Free registration for current NAU students! Contact Monica.Acosta-Alvarado@nau.edu for a registration waiver.

Schedule

Online Track 1

Times will depend on the number of participants.

TimeDescription
6 p.m.Welcome
6:05 p.m.Ice breaker
6:25 p.m.Proceedings/model description
6:45 p.m.Ideas/project presentation (60 secs per participant approximately)
8:30 p.m.Voting
8:45 p.m.Teams integration
8:55 p.m.Closing

In-person Tracks 1, 2, and 3

Events at the AC building
TimeDescription
8 a.m.Breakfast – Registration
9 a.m.Welcome
9:05 a.m.Canvas Business Model Presentation – Speaker
10 a.m.Working sessions – Mentors
1 p.m.Lunch
2 p.m.Dough Nicholls – Mayor of Yuma
2:05 p.m.Entrepreneurs Panel
3 p.m.Working sessions – Mentors
5:30 p.m.Dinner
6:30 p.m.Funding Panel
7:30 p.m.Closing

Events at the AC building
TimeDescription
8 a.m.Breakfast
9 a.m.Working sessions
10 a.m.First round presentations – Judges (5 minutes to present & 5 minutes for Q&A)
12 p.m.Working lunch
2 p.m.Final round presentations – Judges/Investors (5 minutes to present & 5 minutes for Q&A) (Track 1 – 3 Teams) (Track 2 – 2 Teams) (Track 3 – 2 Teams)
4 p.m.Last remarks and diplomas
4:30 p.m.Closing

Facilitators

Monica Acosta-Alvarado

Monica Acosta-Alvarado

Erika Martinez Lugo

Erika Martínez Lugo

DR. LINDA ELLIOTT-NELSON

Linda Elliott-Nelson

Liliana Vizcarra Rivera

Liliana Vizcarra Noble

Speakers

Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls

Doug Nicholls

Jesus Solarzano

Jesús Solorzano

Panelists

First Panel

  • Krizia Godinez/Lola Garcia – I Am Wellness Studio – Yuma
  • César Ponce – Fusionic Shelter – BC
  • Marissa Galindo – Revival Fix – Yuma
  • Juan Carlos Munguía –M Aerospace RTC INC
  • Brigitte Licona – Best Taquito – Yuma

Moderator – Dr. Monica Acosta Alvarado

Second Panel

  • Viridiana Rosales – SBDC CA
  • Alejandra Nuñez – Innovation Projects Coord Secretary of Development and Economy BC
  • Luis Ochoa – Secretary of Development and Economy BC
  • María Esther Durán – UES/FIDESON
  • Mary Cruz Granillo Montes (Consulado de México en Yuma)
  • Mary Carmen Lopez (SBDC – AZ)

Moderator – Dr. Liliana Vizcarra Noble

Judges

First Round

  • Alan Pruitt
  • Randy Nelson
  • Tom Rush
  • Thelma Lundy

Final Round

  • Russ Jones (Yuma)
  • Bosco Noronha
  • Niraj Kohli (NAU)

Mentors

  • Viridiana Rosales (SBDC CA)
  • Paige Leister (NAU)

Hotel accommodations

Nearby Hotels:

Partnering institutions

Notes and media

Thank you to our sponsors!

Yuma Investment Group Wealth Management logo
Chapman Automotive Group logo
APS logo