Seed Funding

Seed For Startups

Seed For Startups is a pitch event for UVU students seeking seed funding for their ventures. Seed For Startups consists of two funding programs:

ZinnStarter Logo

ZinnStarter 

ZinnStarter exists to ignite the next generation of entrepreneurs. This includes giving them encouragement and mentoring as well as cash.

ZinnStarter’s mission is to:

  • Inculcate the next generation of entrepreneurs to create enduring businesses
  • Provide seed money for promising business plans
  • Provide students with Ray Zinn’s leadership, management and entrepreneurship knowledge

Funding amounts: $250-$1000

ZinnStarter is one arm of Ray Zinn’s goal of exporting the positive aspects of Silicon Valley culture to the rest of America. By reaching students in university entrepreneurship programs, Zinn intends to impart his experience, encouragement, mentoring and perspective, as well as putting seed money into the pockets of the next Google, Apple, Ford, Walmart or AT&T.

 

REQUIREMENTS

  1. A lead student would gather a team; preferably 3 or more. 
  2. Come up with a product/service idea and present it to a Board Of Directors made up of students plus one advisor.  Criteria: https://uvu.box.com/v/zinnstarterscc 
  3. The BOD, if approved, awards the team some initial funds.
  4. The team must read Ray Zinn's book,  Tough Things First.
  5. The team with help from the advisor, finds a mentor. ​
  6. The team reports to the BOD once or twice a month on their progress.
  7. Team submits a final Use of Funds report.

 

The Ross Seed Fund Logo

The Ross Fund

The Ross Fund was established by Brett and Robert Ross and additional funding was provided by Charlie and Lindsey Estes.

Seed-stage financing is available to UVU students starting a business who need funds for early development of a new product or service.

Funding amounts: $500-$1500

 

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Student teams should consist of at least one student with a significant ownership position.
  2. Team presents their business idea to a panel of student judges.
  3. The student judges make a funding recommendation, which is then approved or denied by the advisor.
  4. Student teams awarded funding must work with a mentor and pitch their idea at least one competition in the next year. 
  5. Team submits a final Use of Funds report.

 

Apply for seed for startups