Third annual 100-Hour Challenge stimulates student entrepreneurship

In the past, enterprising University of Wisconsin–Madison students have repurposed surplus materials to construct, among other things, a space heater safety alarm, a home reservoir system, a hand-cranking portable power generator and an artistic, wall-mounted light fixture.

Why? Because they stepped up to the 100-Hour Wiscontrepreneur Challenge.

Sponsored by the UW–Madison Office of Corporate Relations and supported by a grant from the Kauffman Foundation, the 100-Hour Challenge returns for a third straight year and again encourages innovative students to imagine, visualize and create something of value in 100 hours (Feb. 18-22).

This year’s challenge opens at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, when participating students receive a $15 voucher to select materials from UW–Madison’s Surplus With a Purpose (SWAP) shop in the basement of Sellery Hall. The SWAP “sale” will be open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on both Wednesday, Feb. 18 and Thursday, Feb. 19.

Students then have until Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. to post a digital photo set, electronic slide set, video or other electronic communication of their creation on a publicly accessible Web site. Three winners will be selected and announced on March 2 in the categories of most creative, most monetary value created and most social value created.

Each of these winners will receive a $300 cash prize. In addition, the contestant whose entry is viewed online by the most people will receive a $100 “People’s Choice” prize.

For the first time, the 100-Hour Wiscontrepreneur Challenge is open to any student registered at a two-year or four-year Wisconsin institution. No prior registration is necessary.

For more information, email challenge@wiscontrepreneur.org.