A Consortium of Midwest Universities will further Blockchain Education and Development with Pitch Competition & More
Big things are coming! The Midwest Blockchain Consortium, founded in late 2019, is comprised of exclusively midwestern universities aligned to provide consulting services in the distributed ledger industry. We envision a network of universities, entrepreneurs, technologists and corporate partners across the region that empower students and corporations alike to involve themselves in the blockchain space. Offering business use-case reports, proof-of-concept development, and educational workshops, the Midwest Blockchain Consortium will help institutions integrate cutting edge technology while giving students the opportunity to apply their skills in real, professional situations. Founding members of MBC include; Marquette Blockchain Labs, Miami University Blockchain Club, Blockchain @ Indiana University, Spartan Blockchain Solutions (Michigan State University), Blockchain at University of Michigan, and Blockchain at Loyola University Chicago.
One of the largest issues in the industry is the wide talent gap- an explosion of interest in decentralized services from corporations and governments alike has not yet been met with the same growth in labor supply. This is not for lack of enthusiasm; one needs not to look any further than the countless university blockchain initiatives that have begun in the past few years. Yet, there is currently little infrastructure for organizing these small pockets of skilled individuals into a larger, more capable and efficient machine able to handle the high-stress requirements of production-grade information technology. The Midwest Blockchain Consortium will enable university students to gain high-level experience in technical and non-technical roles.
With a network of young, driven developers, project managers, and entrepreneurs, The Midwest Blockchain Consortium is capable of breaking large projects into smaller deliverables, then distributing these tasks across the labor network. As member organizations prove their reputation, the consortium will pass along more responsibilities in hopes of giving consortium members the opportunity to manage projects at a higher level themselves. With this robust talent network, there are few, if any, tasks that the Midwest Blockchain Consortium cannot deliver!
The Midwest Blockchain Consortium will be debuting with the University Decentralized Business Model Pitch Competition hosted during the Milwaukee Blockchain Conference. Early applicants include representation from Marquette University, Miami University, Michigan State University, Indiana University and the University of Michigan. 5 or more additional universities are expected to compete as well. This event will accelerate innovation in blockchain technology by connecting the nation’s top blockchain talent with access to R&D funding from top VC’s, multinational corporations and other like-minded entrepreneurs. After each team performs a 10-minute pitch in a breakout room, the top three finalists will pitch on the main stage to compete for a $1000 prize! If you think your business case has what it takes, head over to the Midwest Blockchain Consortium website to register by February 28th!
Make sure to follow MBC on Linkedin. This article was written by Jack Gilcrest, President of Miami University Blockchain Club, a founding member of the Midwest Blockchain Consortium, and Co-Founder and CTO of blOX Consulting. MU Blockchain Club aims to educate and provide professional Development to Miami University students.
