For years, the Center for Entrepreneurship at Portland State University has created opportunities for students to take their ideas beyond the classroom.
Programs like the Cleantech Challenge (CTC) and Everyday Entrepreneur (EE) gave students the chance to explore entrepreneurship, develop solutions to real-world problems, and present their ideas to new audiences. Each program brought together students, mentors, faculty, and community members around a shared belief: that great ideas can come from anywhere.
Now, the Center for Entrepreneurship is bringing those experiences together under one new program.
Introducing the PSU Innovation Challenge
The PSU Innovation Challenge is the next evolution of student innovation and entrepreneurship at Portland State.
Building on the legacy of the Cleantech Challenge and Everyday Entrepreneur, the PSU Innovation Challenge will create a new opportunity for students to explore ideas, identify problems, develop solutions, and turn their concepts into something they can share with the world.
The new challenge expands beyond a single definition of entrepreneurship or innovation. Students will be encouraged to bring forward ideas from across disciplines and industries—whether they are developing a business, designing a product, addressing a community challenge, creating new technology, or finding a better way to solve an everyday problem.
At its core, the PSU Innovation Challenge is about giving students a place to ask an important question:
What if there was a better way?
Building on a Strong Foundation
The transition from CTC and EE to the PSU Innovation Challenge represents both a change and a continuation.
The Cleantech Challenge challenged students to think about the future of sustainability and develop innovative solutions to environmental problems while creating a physical prototype. Everyday Entrepreneur celebrated community-centered ventures addressing social, economic, and access-driven challenges.
Both programs helped students build confidence, develop practical skills, and discover what was possible when an idea was given the space to grow.
The PSU Innovation Challenge carries that spirit forward.
By bringing these programs together, the Center for Entrepreneurship hopes to create a more unified and accessible experience for the PSU community—one that welcomes students at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey and from every academic background.
You don't need to arrive with a fully developed business plan. You don't need to have started a company before. You just need an idea, a problem you want to solve, or the curiosity to explore what might be possible.
From an Idea to a Prototype—and Beyond
For teams developing a physical product, the PSU Innovation Challenge will offer an additional opportunity through the Invention Track.
Teams competing with a physical prototype will be eligible to receive additional grant funding to support the development of their invention. The top team in the Invention Track will also earn the opportunity to represent Portland State University in the statewide InventOR Collegiate Challenge, continuing their journey from idea to impact.
This connection creates a pathway for students to take their work beyond PSU and share their innovations on a larger stage.
Innovation with Purpose
Supported by the PGE Foundation, the PSU Innovation Challenge reflects a shared commitment to student-led innovation, entrepreneurship, and the development of practical solutions for a more sustainable and equitable future.
The program is designed not only to help students develop ideas, but also to build the skills, confidence, and connections needed to take action.
Participants will learn by doing—working through challenges, testing ideas, receiving feedback, and adapting along the way.
What's Next
While the names Cleantech Challenge and Everyday Entrepreneur are changing, the spirit behind them remains an important part of the Center for Entrepreneurship.
The PSU Innovation Challenge builds on what these programs made possible while creating a new, more connected experience for the next generation of innovators at Portland State.
The PSU Innovation Challenge is more than a competition—it is a launchpad for students to explore what's possible when creativity, entrepreneurship, and purpose come together.
Whether students arrive with an early-stage idea, a problem they want to solve, or simply the curiosity to create something new, the PSU Innovation Challenge will give them an opportunity to take the next step.
The next idea. The next solution. The next startup. It could start at PSU.
The next chapter of student innovation at Portland State is here.
The new PSU Innovation Challenge website is now live, giving students a place to learn more about the program, explore the competition, and find out how to get involved.
Students interested in turning an idea into a startup, developing a prototype, or tackling an environmental or social challenge can visit the website to learn more about the program and the opportunities available.
Ready to take the next step? Visit the PSU Innovation Challenge website to explore the program, find application information, and apply to participate.
[Visit the PSU Innovation Challenge website → Here]