Hawai'i Pacific University's Entrepreneurship Center will hold its first business plan competition for undergraduate and graduate students May 14-16.

"HPU New Venture Challenge 2008" is intended to encourage students to start and grow business ventures based on ideas and technologies developed by themselves or others. In addition to writing a business plan, students will be taught skills in pitching their ventures to potential investors.

The event begins Wednesday with a "Poster and Pitch" competition and reception from 4-7 p.m. at the Plaza Club, 900 Fort Street Mall, 20th floor. On May 15, teams will present their plans to panels of judges from 8:30 a.m.-noon at HPU's Fort Street Mall campus and finalists will be announced.

On May 16, the "Grand Finals Round" will be held starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Plaza Club. An awards ceremony is set for 5:30 and the winning team will be presented $5,000.

The public is invited to attend the competition. For information, visit www.hpu.edu/entrepreneurship.