Utah Valley University’s (UVU) spring 2026 student trade show, VentureCon, gave 35 student vendors the opportunity to sell their goods, connect with new customers, and network with fellow entrepreneurs. Hosted by the UVU Chelsea & Casey Baugh Entrepreneurship Institute (BEI), the high-energy event drew hundreds of students and community members. Designed to benefit student entrepreneurs, many vendors reported substantial revenues during the event.
Unlike traditional trade shows or even independent markets, which can have steep booth fees, UVU’s VentureCon is free to participants and open to UVU students, concurrent enrollment students, and alumni. Students who may still be in the development phases of their product are also invited to participate in the show so they can survey customers, conduct market research, or sell their products.
“For some participants, this is their first time interacting face-to-face with customers, which can be intimidating but is a very valuable experience,” said BEI Associate Director Alessandra Camargo. “It gives them the chance to test their ideas in real time, receive immediate feedback, and build the confidence they need to move their ventures forward.”
UVU ranks #1 in the nation for graduates opening businesses in the same state as their alma mater, according to Switch On Business. The BEI provides resources to help students achieve their goals of founding their own businesses.
“We don’t want to just teach entrepreneurship; we want to create entrepreneurs,” said BEI Senior Director Seth Jenson. “We want to help students bring revenue-generating businesses to life. One of our core principles at the Baugh Entrepreneurship Institute is that we build real businesses born from student ideas and passions.”
For additional information about the Baugh Entrepreneurship Institute, please visit https://www.uvu.edu/woodbury/entrepreneurship.
