Twenty minutes. That’s all the time Itziar Diez-Canedo and her colleague had to present their idea for a new business to a group of investors and judges in the School’s annual Rothschild Entrepreneurship Competition. MyGiga.com, an online storage site for students, was awarded second place in the small business category.

“This experience made business theory jump to life for me, and it was one of the most rewarding projects I’ve been a part of,” says Itziar, who is from Mexico. But then Itziar has found a lot of rewards in going to business school at the University of Miami. “I love that the program is flexible enough that I can mold my career and pursue many different interests. I am triple majoring in economics, marketing and entrepreneurship, and doing a minor in English. The business school has exceeded my expectations academically, and I am constantly challenged.”

Itziar believes extracurricular activities such as the Rothschild Entrepreneurship Competition and the Hyperion Council “get you out into the business world, and make you apply what you have learned.”And then there’s the Miami factor. “I water-ski every Monday morning before economics class. It’s great to be studying in a place where you can enjoy the outdoors so much. Miami’s diversity and multicultural feel are very enriching. It is sometimes referred to as the capital of Latin America, and coming from Mexico City it really does feel like my second home.”

The Rothschild Entrepreneurship Competition challenges students to come up with a novel idea for a venture and write a formal business plan for getting it off the ground. Finalists are invited to prepare detailed business plans and make a pitch to a panel of business leaders. Winners receive cash prizes to help start their ventures: $14,000 for first place, $6,000 for second and $3,000 to each of two third place winners. Honorable mention winners each receive $1,000.