AUSTIN, TX — On May 13th – 15th, nearly 200 university students from 22 colleges and universities descended onto the University of Texas at Austin campus to participate in the USA Expo, a national pitch competition hosted by Enactus USA. Enactus USA serves a national network of college campuses in the United States and offers entrepreneurial training and resources to cultivate a community of support, using business as a catalyst for positive social and environmental change. 

Each year the USA Expo serves as a breeding ground for innovation, ingenuity, and collaboration, where young people demonstrate wisdom and commitment to impact their communities. This year’s USA Expo theme was Shape the Future and Thrive. The will to thrive despite or because of circumstances applies to both the Enactus USA participants and the Enactus organization as a whole. The event served as a testament to thriving in all forms and signaled a new chapter for Enactus as well—the organization recently entered into a strategic partnership with Resolution Project, an international nonprofit incubator for young social entrepreneurs with ideas to build a more just and sustainable world. The partnership will engage more than 40,000 youth a year and significantly increase the educational, financial, and social resources offered to participants in nearly 100 countries, with a combined impact on over 20 million people.

Sponsored by Anderson Merchandisers and Drew and Dottie Wintemberg; supported by Graticube and Playr1;  hosted by Enactus alum, Jeff Houghton; and attended by business leaders across industries, the USA Expo served as an opportunity to meet student entrepreneurs and be inspired by the innovation of young people who seek to change the world. Sponsoring and participating businesses and corporations attended the USA Expo to serve as judges and scorers, recruit talent, and connect with other business leaders. 

The three-day event, hosted by the McCombs School of Business and Global Sustainability Leadership Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, kicked off with cultural and innovation excursions around Austin, allowing the participants to visit Texas Inventionworks and the LBJ Presidential Library. They also had the opportunity to participate in workshops to help shape the future of Enactus and enjoy a game night focused on connection, supported by Graticube and Playr1. 

Tuesday’s activities began with an exciting opening ceremony and team parade where student teams brought energy and excitement to the stage. There was also a panel presented by Enactus Alumni focused on how we shape the future and thrive.  Students then began Early Stage Competitions and received feedback from their peers, alumni, and Enactus staff.  Lunchtime included opportunities for business leaders to connect and collaborate with students, followed by training for students run by Enactus Puerto Rico, Resolution Project, and Enactus Global on topics including leveling up social enterprise projects, elevator pitches, and brainstorming to solve problems.