Students from San Diego and Tijuana Compete for $100,000 in Seed Funding at University of San Diego's V2 Competition

University of San Diego students and the top student entrepreneurs from Tijuana will compete for a total of $100,000 in cash and in-kind support in the 2015 V2 Entrepreneur Competition on April 23. The event takes place from 5-9 p.m. in USD’s Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice.

New business ideas range from Stella—a device that measures UV exposure from the sun and connects with your smart phone to seek protection—to YesManWatches—a product showcasing the value of time and encourages people to make the most of their day.

Details about the eight finalist teams can be found on the V2 website.

The Young Entrepreneurs program allows eight teams of students—four from USD and four from universities in Mexico—to compete in the competition. The bi-national track was created to implement USD’s vision that entrepreneurship is regional in scope and extends across borders. The university worked closely with Xavier Peniche Bustamante, Secretary of Economic Development of Tijuana, along with Angel Ventures Mexico, Sedeti, Emprende Tijuana and Mind Hub to make this possible.

V2 is an exciting night where students are able to turn their business ideas into reality. Previous winners have gone on to raise almost $2 million in additional funding, making the competition a launching pad for entrepreneurial success.

“Entrepreneurs represent the future of our economy, and we look forward to helping to create more success stories,” said Mike Lawless, clinical professor of management in USD’s School of Business Administration and V2 Entrepreneur Competition founder.

Finalists of the V2 Entrepreneur Competition will present their pitches to angel investors, San Diego business owners, fellow students and the V2 judges. Students will be judged on the potential success of their venture and ability to be an entrepreneur.

The keynote speaker will be James Brennan ’96 BA, co-founder of SUJA, the San Diego based juice company recently ranked number two on Forbes “Most Promising” List. Brennan will talk about the path of the entrepreneur and his experience.

To attend the event, register here.

About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.