West Virginia statewide collegiate Business Plan Competition winners to be announced April 12
After two phases of competition and months of honing their business ideas, 15 teams of college entrepreneurs have advanced to the finals of the 13th annual West Virginia Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition. The finish line is near, as teams from five different colleges and universities in West Virginia try to capture one of three $10,000 grand prizes at the finals competition on April 12.
Collegiate teams from Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Marshall University, Shepherd University, University of Charleston and West Virginia University have secured finalist positions, and received $1,000 to help further develop their business ideas in the final phase. Teams also participated in a February winter workshop designed to develop their business ideas. Three winners will be announced in the categories of STEM, Lifestyle & Innovation, and Hospitality & Tourism, with each receiving a $10,000 prize.
This year’s field of teams saw 201 entries from 15 different schools across the state, according to Tara St. Clair, senior program manager at the BrickStreet Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at West Virginia University’s John Chambers College of Business and Economics, which hosts the statewide competition. St. Clair said that it was a good sign to see so many schools participating in the competition, and that a record eight schools were represented among the field of 30 semi-finalists who competed in November in Flatwoods. That competition narrowed the field to five finalist teams in each category.
The West Virginia Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition offers a platform to college students around the state to help make their business ideas come to life. The competition is open to all full-time higher education students from any academic major in the state of West Virginia. As the competition progresses throughout the academic year, students receive extensive education and assistance in preparing their business plans and creating their businesses.
For further information on the competition, go to www.businessplanwv.com.
The BrickStreet Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is part of the WVU Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Applied (IDEA) Ecosystem, a university-wide network of centers, offices and programs that fosters and supports innovation and entrepreneurship among WVU students, faculty and staff while engaging the statewide community.
Lifestyle & Innovation
Hospitality & Tourism
Collegiate teams from Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Marshall University, Shepherd University, University of Charleston and West Virginia University have secured finalist positions, and received $1,000 to help further develop their business ideas in the final phase. Teams also participated in a February winter workshop designed to develop their business ideas. Three winners will be announced in the categories of STEM, Lifestyle & Innovation, and Hospitality & Tourism, with each receiving a $10,000 prize.
This year’s field of teams saw 201 entries from 15 different schools across the state, according to Tara St. Clair, senior program manager at the BrickStreet Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at West Virginia University’s John Chambers College of Business and Economics, which hosts the statewide competition. St. Clair said that it was a good sign to see so many schools participating in the competition, and that a record eight schools were represented among the field of 30 semi-finalists who competed in November in Flatwoods. That competition narrowed the field to five finalist teams in each category.
The West Virginia Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition offers a platform to college students around the state to help make their business ideas come to life. The competition is open to all full-time higher education students from any academic major in the state of West Virginia. As the competition progresses throughout the academic year, students receive extensive education and assistance in preparing their business plans and creating their businesses.
For further information on the competition, go to www.businessplanwv.com.
The BrickStreet Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is part of the WVU Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Applied (IDEA) Ecosystem, a university-wide network of centers, offices and programs that fosters and supports innovation and entrepreneurship among WVU students, faculty and staff while engaging the statewide community.
Below is the complete list of 2018-19 West Virginia Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition finalists:
STEM
STEM
1. Loudon Aerial Solutions, LLC- Shepherd University
2. New River Manufacturing- University of Charleston
3. INSULARM- University of Charleston
4. Weedster- Marshall University
5. Iconic EDU- WVU
Lifestyle & Innovation
1. Hydro Sustainable LLC- BlueRidge CTC
2. Whiteline Innovation- WVU
3. Second Chance- University of Charleston
4. Cold Roller- WVU5. Farm to Fork Meat Processing- Marshall
Hospitality & Tourism
1. Hideaway Campground, LLC- University of Charleston
2. The Neighborhood Kombuchery- WVU
3. Veggie Crate, LLC- University of Charleston
4. TCO- University of Charleston5. Real Fight Promotions- WVU
For further information on the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics, follow the business school on Twitter at @wvucobe or visit www.business.wvu.edu.
For further information on the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics, follow the business school on Twitter at @wvucobe or visit www.business.wvu.edu.