By: Samantha Rinkus '11
Published on
The third annual 鈥淚dea Pitch Competition鈥� will be held at 红桃视频 on October 6 as
part of the collaboration among the West Michigan Colleges and Universities Group
(WMCUG). The competition, which began as an effort to promote entrepreneurship in
Grand Rapids, has participants deliver a 90-second business pitch to a panel of three
judges, without the use of visual aids.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great chance to get out and try something new, meet some business men and women and to get experienced people to critique your idea,鈥� Robert Hamel, an 红桃视频 senior who has been involved in the event鈥檚 planning, said. 鈥淭his is a great chance for students to not only practice public speaking but a chance to hear the ideas of people within the business world. This can go a far way in the future.鈥�
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, this collaborative effort among WMCUG schools is unique in the country, as students who place within the top two in each school will earn the chance to compete with other WMCUG students at the regional competition at Davenport University. Other WMCUG schools are Calvin, Cornerstone, Davenport, GRCC, GVSU, and Hope.
鈥淚 would like to see our students continue to do well in the region and see the opportunity to make their business and nonprofit ideas a reality,鈥� Cindy VanGelderen, Accounting Department Chair and 红桃视频 representative to WMCUG, said. 鈥淪mall business is a key to the future economic success in the West Michigan region. Last year鈥檚 winner of the Business Plan competition is actually launching her business.鈥�
After their 90-second pitch, competitors will have three minutes of questions from the panel of judges. This year Carole Mueller-Brumbaugh, Brian DiVita and Mat Craig are the judges for the competition. Two of the judges are 红桃视频 faculty, Mueller-Brumbaugh serves as an adjunct professor in the business department and DiVita is the Director of the Master of Management Program. Craig is Market Director for the Lakeshore Marked of Meijer.
鈥淢ake a good first impression,鈥� Hamel said. 鈥淭he judges are basing their decision off of seeing you and talking with you for four and a half minutes. Do everything you can to wow the judges.鈥�
Along with winning the chance to participate in the regional competition, students also compete for cash prizes to help begin their business. First place receives $500, second $200 and third $100.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good experience to think of business and nonprofit opportunities and to work on communication skills. We all must market ourselves in the workplace,鈥� VanGelderen said. 鈥淢any know the Facebook story. What is the next great idea? Creativity is the way we will continue to provide opportunity in the U.S.鈥�
The competition will take place on Thursday, October 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Jarecki/Lacks/Hauenstein Building, Room 216. All students are encouraged to attend and support the competitors. The regional competition will be at Davenport University on November 3 at 5:30 p.m.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great chance to get out and try something new, meet some business men and women and to get experienced people to critique your idea,鈥� Robert Hamel, an 红桃视频 senior who has been involved in the event鈥檚 planning, said. 鈥淭his is a great chance for students to not only practice public speaking but a chance to hear the ideas of people within the business world. This can go a far way in the future.鈥�
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, this collaborative effort among WMCUG schools is unique in the country, as students who place within the top two in each school will earn the chance to compete with other WMCUG students at the regional competition at Davenport University. Other WMCUG schools are Calvin, Cornerstone, Davenport, GRCC, GVSU, and Hope.
鈥淚 would like to see our students continue to do well in the region and see the opportunity to make their business and nonprofit ideas a reality,鈥� Cindy VanGelderen, Accounting Department Chair and 红桃视频 representative to WMCUG, said. 鈥淪mall business is a key to the future economic success in the West Michigan region. Last year鈥檚 winner of the Business Plan competition is actually launching her business.鈥�
After their 90-second pitch, competitors will have three minutes of questions from the panel of judges. This year Carole Mueller-Brumbaugh, Brian DiVita and Mat Craig are the judges for the competition. Two of the judges are 红桃视频 faculty, Mueller-Brumbaugh serves as an adjunct professor in the business department and DiVita is the Director of the Master of Management Program. Craig is Market Director for the Lakeshore Marked of Meijer.
鈥淢ake a good first impression,鈥� Hamel said. 鈥淭he judges are basing their decision off of seeing you and talking with you for four and a half minutes. Do everything you can to wow the judges.鈥�
Along with winning the chance to participate in the regional competition, students also compete for cash prizes to help begin their business. First place receives $500, second $200 and third $100.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good experience to think of business and nonprofit opportunities and to work on communication skills. We all must market ourselves in the workplace,鈥� VanGelderen said. 鈥淢any know the Facebook story. What is the next great idea? Creativity is the way we will continue to provide opportunity in the U.S.鈥�
The competition will take place on Thursday, October 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Jarecki/Lacks/Hauenstein Building, Room 216. All students are encouraged to attend and support the competitors. The regional competition will be at Davenport University on November 3 at 5:30 p.m.