One of the University of Houston’s most anticipated student business competitions returns next week: Wolffest.
The event, a spring tradition from the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, will bring a slew of pop-up food businesses, entertainers and thousands of visitors to Butler Plaza from April 8-10.
The event pits seven teams of WCE students against each other to see who can raise the most money across three days.
This year’s teams and team leaders are:
- Backyard Wolves, Erica Parkinson, senior
- Cougar Dynasty, DJ Buenaventura, senior
- H-Toon, Daniel Sadegi, senior
- Neo Wolff, Matteo Sharp, senior
- Nosh, Lexavier Richey, junior
- The Snack Shack, Paulina Gonzalez, junior
- Wolff District, Billy Eaton, senior
The Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship is an 18-month program at the C. T. Bauer College of Business. In November 2024, the program took the top spot on The Princeton Review’s Top Schools for Entrepreneurship for the sixth year in a row.
While the environment creates a fun space for the university and its visitors, Wolffest is one of the many ways entrepreneurship students are given real-world business experience. It’s what WCE Executive Director Dave Cook said is key to the program’s success.
“Wolffest is the ultimate test for our Wolff students. It’s three days that students will remember for the rest of their lives,” Cook said. “Years of learning, relationships and ideas are put to the test in a real world competition.”
As students prepare for Wolffest, each of them takes on a leadership role. The teams partner with local vendors and problem solve issues as they arise.
The teams that received the most revenue will be revealed on Thursday, April 24 during the Wolffest Celebration Dinner, where WCE shows its appreciation for vendors, volunteers and stockholders.
Last year, Wolffest raised a total of $210,000.
All proceeds will support the next class of students by funding scholarships, retreats, events, educational trips and other important programs for next year’s class of Wolff Center students.
Interviews with student entrepreneurs will be available on site at Wolffest while interviews with Wolff Center leaders, faculty and mentors can be scheduled.
What: UH’s annual Wolffest, the capstone project for Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship Class of ’25
When: Tuesday through Thursday, April 9-11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Butler Plaza, in front of UH’s MD Anderson Library, 4333 University Dr., Houston, TX 77204 (Map)
Cost: No entrance fee / food and beverages sold at individual booths
Contact: J.J. Adams at jadams23@central.uh.edu, or 713-204-2375, for important details, including parking instructions for reporters