News

On April 27, 2023, the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab hosted its annual April Arts Festival forstudent creatives state-wide. Five student finalists had five minutes to pitch and five minutes to answer questions from a panel of professional judges, in order to win up to $5000 for their creative artwork which included physical art, virtual ideas, and writing samples.

  On March 30, 2023, the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab hosted its annual March Idea Challenge for student organizations across all WVU campuses. Seven student organizations from WVU and one student organization from WVU Tech had five minutes to pitch and five minutes to answer questions from a panel of professional judges, in order to win up to $5000 for their student organization.

On the weekend of March 3rd, the WVU Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab, partnered with the Davis College of Agriculture Natural Resources and Design, and WVU Extension Services to host the 2023 Fashion Impact Challenge. WVU Extension Services and the Davis College host this event to help give high school students the chance to learn more about fashion, design, and entrepreneurship. This event consisted of high school students, who are from the entire state of WV, paired in teams with current WVU students majoring in design, fashion, and merchandising. The challenge called for students to develop an innovative, sustainable, and profitable solution that tackles some of the most difficult challenges within the Appalachian region while relating to the fashion industry.

On Thursday, Oct. 27, The WVU Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab hosted its annual Women Innovate Pitch Competition. Six of the top innovators at West Virginia University pitched their idea to win funding for their business or invention. 

WV Veterans and families are invited to learn more about entrepreneurship and how to start a business. 

On Thursday, Oct. 6, The WVU Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab hosted a new event called the Get My Drift Pitch Competition. Eight of West Virginia University’s newest creative entrepreneurs had five minutes to pitch their ideas.  

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, The WVU Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab hosted its third annual ZinnStarter Pitch Competition. Here, eight of West Virginia University’s brightest entrepreneurs had five minutes to pitch their ideas to a panel of industry professionals and a packed audience teeming with support. 

I-Corps Regional Course to be hosted by West Virginia University - October 2022! Follow this link for more info! https://tfaforms.com/5004333

The Appalachian Social Enterprise Summit, a collaboration by Coalfield Development and other regional partners will be the area’s largest gathering of social entrepreneurs this year! This amazing event will attract entrepreneurs who are interested in the model of social entrepreneurship, as well as current practitioners and investors who are looking to network and expand. This is a great chance to engage and support some of the most creative and compassionate leaders our hills and hollers have to offer.

West Virginia University and the TransTech Program are excited to announce the Evolving Energy Conference, which will bring together Appalachian region stakeholders, key partners, and academic institutions as well as federal and corporate leaders to holistically discuss the expanding energy sector, as well as energy needs for the future of manufacturing. Follow this link to get started https://transtechenergy.wvu.edu/2022-transtech-events