Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Cross-Border Opportunities In Mexico-Sonora And Athena Virtual Reality

Abstract

As a student in the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship program, I have developed a multitude of skills associated with business innovation and entrepreneurship. My four teammates and I have spent the last year creating a scalable new venture, Athena Virtual Reality (VR). Athena VR enables universities to customize an engaging technology to market their school to prospective students. Users are able to view college campuses, curriculum and career opportunities to improve four-year student graduation rates. Following the collection of validation research, our team developed a business plan that outlines Athena VR’s objectives and strategies to achieve the company’s overall goals. Our team also participated in several trade shows, including the New Venture Competition in which we prepared a 1-minute, 3-minute and 5-minute pitch for investors. The Honors course in this program primarily focused on cross-border business between the U.S. and Mexico-Sonora. By conducting our own research and listening to several guest speakers, we were able to expand our knowledge about Mexico’s economy, culture and relationship with the U.S. I traveled to Mexico-Sonora with my classmates to experience the region’s opportunities in business development and analyze how Athena VR can learn from and/or utilize these opportunities in its strategies.