Palmer Luckey
IMPORTANT UPDATE from the Center for Entrepreneurship: The Capstone Business Luncheon during Entrepreneurship Week on Friday, March 27 is cancelled. We were very excited that Steve Craig had invited entrepreneur extraordinaire Palmer Luckey. We hope to bring Mr. Luckey to the Missouri Western campus at a later date.
The free business workshops will be rescheduled for a later time. We also will be announcing the 2020 Entrepreneurs of the Year at a later date. While we are all very disappointed to have to reschedule the workshops and luncheon, we appreciate your understanding as we all work together to keep our communities safe.
March 5, 2020—Palmer Luckey, the young businessman and designer whose Oculus Rift headset revolutionized the virtual reality industry, will be the keynote speaker at the Capstone Business Luncheon during Entrepreneurship Week hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship at Missouri Western State University on Friday, March 27.
“The story of Palmer Luckey’s success developing a product and building a business at such an early age will be inspiring for all who attend the lunch,” said Annette Weeks, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship.
Luckey developed his first prototype virtual reality headset at the age of 17 in 2010. He launched the company Oculus VR in 2012. Just two years later, the company was sold to Facebook for $2.3 billion. In 2017, Luckey co-founded Anduril, a defense technology company that combines AI software with the latest hardware to address national security issues.
The Capstone Business Luncheon will be held at noon March 27 in the Fulkerson Center. In addition to Luckey’s keynote address, the luncheon will feature the announcement of the Entrepreneur of the Year and Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year winners. Tickets are $20 and seating is limited. Register online at csb-cfe.missouriwestern.edu/, by phone at 816-271-4283 or by email at entrepreneurship@missouriwestern.edu.
Sponsored by Don Tolly American Family Insurance Agency, Montee Law Firm and Sumner, Carter, Hardy & Schwichtenberg, PC, Entrepreneurship Week is a series of workshops and events for local business professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs, college and high school students, and those curious about the skills needed to run a small business.
Business professors from multiple disciplines will offer small, personalized sessions at various times throughout the week. All of the sessions are open to the public and students for free. Walk-ins are also welcome, but registration will help the speakers prepare materials and examples for the sessions.
The week will also feature a special edition of the Cup of Joe entrepreneur gathering, and the MECA Challenge Kansas City Youth Competition will provide local high school students the opportunity to participate in an all-day event sponsored by the Innovation Stockyard.
For more information or to register for any of the events, call the Center for Entrepreneurship at 816-271-4283 or email entrepreneurship@missouriwestern.edu. You can also visit the CFE website at csb-cfe.missouriwestern.edu/entrepreneurship-week/.
About the Center for Entrepreneurship: The Center for Entrepreneurship trains, mentors and supports business owners and entrepreneurs in the St. Joseph area and beyond. Whether your business is new, new to the area, or simply trying something new, we can help. To date, the Center for Entrepreneurship has provided free consulting services to more than 500 new and existing entrepreneurs.
About Missouri Western: Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.