Empowering Young Entrepreneurs: 4th Annual Student Entrepreneurship Conference Recap

The 4th Annual Student Entrepreneurship Conference, hosted at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), provided an engaging platform for aspiring young business leaders to connect, learn, and grow. This event, supported by LYFT Career Pathways and key regional partners, brought together student entrepreneurs from five Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) programs: Lyon/Murray, Cottonwood/Jackson, Southwest, Minnesota River Valley and West Central.

A Day of Learning, Networking, and Innovation

The conference featured a diverse agenda designed to inspire and equip students with the tools they need to succeed in business.

• Keynote Speakers: Betsy Bonnema and Gina Lieser, co-founders of RedStar, a Creative Agency, kicked off the event by sharing their expertise on innovation, risk-taking, and the entrepreneurial mindset.
• The Risk Takers, Change Makers, Rebels, and Boundary Pushers Panel: Seven local entrepreneurs, facilitated by the keynote speakers, shared their journeys, highlighting key resources that supported them at various stages—from exploration to launch and growth.
• Exploring the SMSU Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE): Students learned about the resources available for startups and small businesses, including insights from the Enactus President on how the CIE has aided in advancing his ventures.
• Entrepreneurship BINGO: An interactive session encouraging students to engage with entrepreneurial concepts in a fun and dynamic way.

A Collaborative Effort to Support Future Business Leaders

This conference was made possible through the collaboration of several organizations dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in Southwest Minnesota.

Event Partners:

• Southwest West Central Service Cooperative (SWWC)
• LYFT Career Pathways
• Southwest Minnesota State University Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities)
• Southwest Initiative Foundation
• America's SBDC Minnesota

Through engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences, students walked away with practical insights, valuable connections, and the inspiration to take the next steps in their entrepreneurial journeys.

The 4th Annual Student Entrepreneurship Conference reaffirmed the importance of providing young innovators with opportunities to explore their potential, connect with like-minded peers, and access the support they need to turn ideas into reality.

For more information on future entrepreneurship events and resources, stay connected with LYFT Career Pathways and our event partners.