The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at New Mexico State University invites the NMSU community to attend the Hult Prize Student Idea Pitch Competition Thursday, Feb. 27.
The event, hosted in collaboration with the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints, will feature four teams of civil engineering students presenting innovative solutions that leverage construction technologies to address global challenges.
The Hult Prize is a globally recognized competition that challenges university students to develop high-impact startups aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Often referred to as the "Nobel Prize for students," the competition spans more than 120 countries, providing mentorship, funding and the opportunity for students to pitch their ideas on a global stage. The winning team from NMSU will advance to the Hult Prize national competition in Boston, with all expenses covered, to compete for a $1 million seed investment to bring their idea to life.
This year's competition at NMSU is powered by the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints, a signature initiative of the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship. Named in honor of Mike Hunt, vice chairman of the board of directors for Hunt Companies, the program provides civil engineering students with the tools, funding, and hands-on experience they need to tackle real-world challenges through entrepreneurship and innovation.
In addition to the student pitch competition, the event will feature the presentation of the inaugural Aggie Construction Innovator of the Year Award. The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship is recognizing Qianyun (Gloria) Zhang, an assistant professor in the NMSU civil engineering department, as the first recipient of the award. The honor celebrates a faculty member who demonstrates outstanding leadership, creativity and impact in the field of construction, reinforcing NMSU's commitment to advancing innovation in the industry.
The competition will be judged by a distinguished panel of experts, including Alejandro Muñoz Mendieta, co-founding managing partner at No Border Ventures; Frank Spencer III, president of Aztec Contractors, Inc.; Bill Smallwood, an impact angel investor and managing partner at Petroleum Rx, LLC; and Daniel Jones, entrepreneur-in-residence at NMSU's Arrowhead Center and CEO at Patient Signs. Their collective experience in venture investment, entrepreneurship and the construction industry will provide valuable insights into the groundbreaking ideas presented by NMSU students.
"Providing civil engineering students with a robust platform to develop entrepreneurial skills and champion visionary solutions isn't just about bridging the gap between academia and industry; it's about empowering them to reimagine the future of construction," said Carlos Murguia, director of the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship.
This event is an opportunity for the NMSU community to witness the creativity and ambition of student entrepreneurs as they develop innovative solutions with real-world impact. Attendees will gain insights into emerging trends in construction technology, engage with industry professionals and mentors, and support the next generation of innovators as they take their first steps toward transforming ideas into reality.
Admission to the competition is free, but space is limited. To reserve a seat, visit https://lu.ma/28n08r67. For more information, contact Murguia at
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/last-call-to-join-nmsu-s-first-hult-prize-student-idea-pitch-competition/s/b2fd16a0-d5db-4fc1-adfb-e217b0087aa0
