Institute for Entrepreneurship at CSU

👏 WOW 👏 Nearly 250 students, founders, alumni, and community members came together for this year’s I4E Startup Showcase to celebrate entrepreneurship in action at CSU.

Six student teams took the stage and delivered 5-minute pitches with confidence and clarity. We couldn’t be more proud.

Huge thank you to our judges — Stace Houk, Josie Kamrath, and Doug Radi — and to Scott Shrake for opening the evening, and Aubrey Kruse for emceeing.

Grateful to the NoCo Foundation and the Hart family for sharing Austin J. Hart’s story and presenting the scholarship to Robert McCurren V, also part of the winning team.

And thank you to Chris Petersen and family for supporting our student founders through the SVA, plus Sam Abdul, Lauren Little, and Gabe Allen for coming back to share their journeys.

🏆 Winners:
🥇 FlocBot — Josh Kates & Robert McCurren V
🥈 Ground Station Network (GSn) — Jacob Auman
🥉 Furggle — Allie Seok

Special Awards:
🏅 Grit & Gold: SayoTech Cyber
🏅 Temple Grandin Impact: Creasti Group
🏅 Business for a Better World: Ad Astra
🏅 People’s Choice: FlocBot

We are SO grateful for this community and every student who stepped up. Go Rams!

✨Behind every business is a story you don’t see🌟

Join us as Dean Hines, owner of The Welsh Rabbit Cheese Shop, shares the reality behind building a business — the beauty, the struggles, and the innovation that shaped his journey.

📍 Rockwell – Venture Lounge
📆 April 23 | ⏰ 5:00–6:00 PM

RSVP NOW👉 https://forms.gle/mD9TtcdTDZrNZXWGA

TODAY’S THE DAY 🎉 The Countdown is Over!

The I4E Startup Showcase is here and we can’t wait to see you tonight. Join us for an evening of ideas, student innovation, and a chance to support founders competing for over $15K in prizes.

Event Details:
📅 Today, Monday, April 13, 2026
🕓 4:30 – 6:30 PM
📍 CSU Lory Student Center Theater
1101 Center Ave Mall, Fort Collins, CO 80521
(The Theater is located in the southwest corner of the building)

Parking:
Parking is free after 4 PM
Recommended lots:
• Morgan Library Lot (425)
• Lory Student Center Lot (310)

Expect an exciting night filled with:
• Live student venture pitches
• Networking with the CSU and Northern Colorado community
• Food and refreshments
• Audience voting and exciting awards

It’s not too late to join us. Come support your peers, get inspired, and be part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem here at CSU.

See you tonight!

1 day to go. Tomorrow is the day.

The I4E Startup Showcase is here and we are kicking off the week in a big way.
This is our largest event of the year and it is free and open to the community. If you have been thinking about attending, now is the time to secure your spot.

Join us for an evening of:
• Student founders pitching live for over $15K in prizes
• Food and refreshments
• Networking with the CSU and Northern Colorado entrepreneurial community
• A front-row seat to the innovation coming out of campus and beyond

Event Details:
-TOMORROW, Monday, April 13
-4:30–6:30 PM
-Lory Student Center Theater

Come support your peers, connect with the community, and experience what entrepreneurship looks like at CSU.

Secure your spot before it’s too late at the link in our bio.

We can’t wait to see you there!

2 DAYS TO GO!! — Over $15K in awards

At the I4E Startup Showcase, it’s not just about pitching, it’s about competing for meaningful funding and recognition that can help move these ventures forward.

Here’s what our student founders are competing for:
• 1st Place: $5,000
• 2nd Place: $3,000
• 3rd Place: $2,000
• Himes People’s Choice Award: $1,500
• Temple Grandin Impact Award: $1,000
• Michael Best Business for a Better World Award: $1,500
• Grit & Gold Award: $1,500

Event Details:
📍 Lory Student Center Theater, Colorado State University
📅 Monday, April 13
⏰ 4:30–6:30 PM
🎟️ Free and open to the public (food and refreshments provided)

🔗 Register at the link in our bio!

Come see who takes home the awards and support our CSU founders!

3 Days to Go ⏳

The I4E Startup Showcase 2026 is right around the corner, and you won’t want to miss it.

Join us for an evening of innovative ideas, live pitches, and the opportunity to support CSU’s top student founders as they compete for over $15,000 in prizes.

Event Details:
📍 CSU Lory Student Center Theater
📅 Monday, April 13
⏰ 4:30–6:30 PM
🎟️ Free and open to the public

Come for the pitches, stay for the networking, and enjoy food and refreshments while connecting with students, founders, and the Northern Colorado entrepreneurial community.

It’s all happening in just 3 days. Make your plans now and be part of the energy!

RSVP at the link in our bio!

4 days to go.

Last year, Sam Abdul took the stage at the I4E Startup Showcase and walked away with 1st place.

Today, his company, troop, has:
• 20,000+ customers
• 300+ events hosted
• Active in 3 countries

What started as a ticketing platform has evolved into something bigger. troop is now building toward becoming the Shopify for event organizers, helping creators not just host events, but build real, sustainable businesses.

That is the power of moments like this.

Pitch competitions are not just about a single night. They are about:
• Giving founders a platform to be seen
• Providing real feedback and validation
• Creating momentum that carries far beyond the stage

It is pretty incredible to look back and see how far a student founder can go in just one year.

Now it is time to watch the next group step up!

I4E Startup Showcase
📅 Monday, April 13
⏰ 4:30 – 6:30 PM
📍 Lory Student Center Theater, Colorado State University

Free and open to the public: visit the link in our bio to register!

Come experience the innovation coming out of CSU and the Northern Colorado community, meet the founders behind it, and see where the next story like Sam’s might begin.

Can’t wait to see you there!