Think you can pitch a wild business idea in under a minute? Or unscramble biomedical jargon like a pro? Students at the CFE Open House Carnival rose to the challenge! Our first-ever carnival open house was a hit, with over 120 students joining us for an afternoon packed with interactive games, tasty snacks, and exciting prizes.
The event brought together our community of aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators, showcasing the creative energy and collaborative spirit that define the Center for Entrepreneurship. Here’s a recap of the fun!
Entrepreneurial Games: Challenge Accepted!
Students dove into four entrepreneurial games, each designed to test their creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork skills:
ENTR Course Pictionary
This game put students’ entrepreneurial vocab knowledge to the test in a high-speed drawing challenge. Armed with terms like “pivot” and “marketing,” players had to draw out concepts while their teammates guessed the word. It was a fun (and occasionally hilarious) way to dive into the language of entrepreneurship!
Claw Machine Pitch Game
A crowd favorite, this game combined a classic claw machine with quick-fire pitching. After snagging a wild problem from the claw machine (like “Create a wallet that stops you from spending too much on takeout”), students had just one minute to pitch their out-of-the-box solution. The creativity on display was both impressive and entertaining!
Customer Discovery Cup Pong
In this entrepreneurial twist on cup pong, students aimed for giant cups labeled with different customer segments. Once they sank a shot, they brainstormed customer discovery prompts to address that segment’s unique needs. This hands-on game reinforced a key entrepreneurial skill—understanding your customers.
Biomedical Word Scramble
For the life science enthusiasts, the Michigan Biomedical Venture Fund (MBVF) ran a fast-paced word scramble where students raced to unscramble key biomedical entrepreneurial terms. This game offered a great introduction to the world of life science startups.
Photobooth Fun, EHour Info, and Swag!
Students took a break from the games to pose at our photobooth with fun carnival-themed props, capturing memories with their friends and classmates. The External Engagement team was also on hand to share information about EHour—our flagship speaker series—and give away CFE swag, including fun fidget stress balls.
Prizes and Snacks Galore
No carnival is complete without snacks, and we kept everyone fueled with popcorn, drinks, and an array of treats. At the prize booth, students picked up tote bags, pens, stickers, magnets, and keychains. Two lucky students even walked away with the coveted CFE Yeti tumblers!
Thank You to Our Community
We’d like to extend a big thank you to everyone who attended the CFE Open House Carnival! Whether you were testing your entrepreneurial chops with a game, grabbing some swag, or networking with fellow students, we hope you had an amazing time.
Keep an eye out for more exciting CFE events coming soon—this is just the beginning of an incredible year of innovation, learning, and entrepreneurship!