Vet students ideas could earn them $17.5K

Eureka! Veterinary students could make good money from their cool ideas. (Photo Getty Images)An online test preparation company is offering $17,500 in prizes and expert mentorship to veterinary students who think they've got the next great veterinary innovation. “The Idea” innovation competition is hosted by VetPrep with the Student American Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Business Management Association.

“We started our company when we were veterinary students,” says VetPrep cofounder Ira Gordon, DVM, DACVR. “[We know] students have so many great ideas but oftentimes lack the confidence, resources and mentorship they need to turn their ideas into reality. This competition can help with all three."

The contest kicked off March 19 at the SAVMA Symposium in Ames, Iowa, where entrepreneurial veterinarians spoke to the student audience. Teams with the best ideas will be paired with mentors to help them develop a full proposal describing the viability and importance of the potential innovations, and finalists will present at the SAVMA Symposium in 2017 at Texas A&M University, with the top three winners receiving $17,500 in cash prizes to help the teams take their ideas forward