Maren Valentine with first place winner Jake Regan and second place winner Luke Heggestad
The UWRF Small Business Development Center (SBDC) was instrumental in shaping the 2025 UWRF Innovation Challenge, an exciting opportunity for students to cultivate and develop their business ideas. Through mentorship and hands-on instruction in the Business Model Canvas, students refined their concepts and prepared to pitch their ventures in a competition offering $3,000 in cash prizes.
SBDC Consultant Maren Valentine expressed the impact of this initiative, saying, “It is a huge honor to work with the young entrepreneurs at the UWRF campus. I’m very encouraged to see the students apply the Business Model Canvas to their ideas and watch what they come up with. In this case, my clients each walked away with significant startup money and reinforcement from the larger business community in Western Wisconsin!”
By providing expert guidance and essential resources, the UWRF SBDC continues to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs, fostering innovation and economic growth in the region.