PSU Center For Entrepreneurship Archive

For years, the Center for Entrepreneurship has created opportunities for students to turn ideas into action. This archive celebrates the programs, people, and experiences that have helped shape our work and the entrepreneurial community at Portland State.

From the Cleantech Challenge to Everyday Entrepreneur, these programs challenged participants to think differently, solve real-world problems, and explore what’s possible through entrepreneurship.

Explore our history and discover the ideas, innovations, and people that helped build the foundation for what the Center for Entrepreneurship is today—and what comes next.

About the Cleantech Challenge

The PSU Cleantech Challenge was a student-focused innovation and prototype competition designed to help Portland State University students turn ideas for a more sustainable future into real-world solutions.

Bringing together students from across disciplines, the program challenged teams to address pressing environmental and social issues through design thinking, business modeling, market research, and hands-on prototyping. Over the course of 10 weeks, participants received mentorship, coaching, and funding to develop their ideas and bring their concepts to life.

The program culminated in a live pitch competition and prototype exhibition, where finalist teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges and the broader Portland community. The top team earned the opportunity to advance to the statewide InventOR Collegiate Challenge, continuing their journey from idea to impact.

Supported by the PGE Foundation, the Cleantech Challenge reflected a shared commitment to student-led innovation and the development of practical solutions for a more sustainable and equitable future.

The Cleantech Challenge was more than a competition—it was a launchpad for students to explore what’s possible when creativity, entrepreneurship, and purpose come together.

About the Everyday Entrepreneur

The PSU Everyday Entrepreneur program (EE) was a student venture competition focused on supporting entrepreneurs who were creating practical solutions to everyday challenges in their communities.

Open to students from across disciplines, the program encouraged founders to build businesses rooted in lived experience, local needs, and meaningful community impact. Participants received mentorship, coaching, and venture development support while spending 10 weeks developing their ideas through customer discovery, business modeling, and iteration.

The program culminated in a live pitch competition and venture showcase, where finalist teams presented their businesses to judges and competed for funding to continue developing their ventures. The top team also earned the opportunity to advance to the statewide InventOR Collegiate Challenge.

Supported by the PGE Foundation, Everyday Entrepreneur celebrated a broader definition of entrepreneurship—one focused not only on growth, but on accessibility, community, and solving the problems people encounter every day.

Everyday Entrepreneur recognized that some of the most meaningful ventures begin with a simple question: How can we make everyday life better?