St. Olaf College Hosts 11th Ole Cup

Written By E1 - Entrepreneurs First

​The Ole Cup is St. Olaf College’s annual student entrepreneurial pitch competition, designed to empower students to transform innovative ideas into viable ventures. Established in 2014 by alumnus Brad Cleveland ’82, former CEO of Proto Labs, the competition is hosted by the Piper Center for Vocation and Career. It offers students mentorship, workshops, and resources to develop business plans and pitch decks. Winners receive substantial seed funding, with the first-place prize set at $10,000. ​

Over the past decade, the Ole Cup has awarded more than $250,000 to over 150 student teams, launching successful ventures like JonnyPops and Whiskey Woods. The competition is open to all St. Olaf students in good academic standing, and the winning team automatically qualifies for the semi-final round of the Minnesota Cup student division. ​

The 2025 Ole Cup is scheduled for Saturday, April 26. Applications opened on December 2, 2024, and closed on February 15, 2025. Selected teams are currently receiving mentoring and support in preparation for the competition. ​

For more information, visit the Ole Cup page on the Piper Center website.​

E1 - Entrepreneurs First
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