Did you know that many top global entrepreneurs started their company while still in college? Entrepreneurs like Bill Gate and Mark Zuckerberg started their billion dollar companies in college. That is the power of being a college student.
The College of Business at Central Michigan University hosts events every year for young entrepreneurs with hopes of turning they’re very own ideas into a reality.
Central Michigan University hosted its very own “Shark Tank” business pitch event at Grawn Hall on Dec. 2, 2017. Contestants presented their business ideas in front of judges in a series of elimination rounds in order to compete for cash prizes. The grand winner would receive $500 in total.
“This is an opportunity for students with a vision and a dream of starting their own business to pitch their own ideas in front of judges which includes a CEO of a Fortune 500 Company and many other entrepreneurs,” said Charles Crespy, Dean of Business Administration for CMU.
A total of 29 business’ pitched their idea in front of the judges in hopes of achieving the grand prize.
Natalie Weast and Nolan Shine are co-founders of Resin, and their idea is a marijuana dispensary company specializing in edibles. They realized that many people do not enjoy the process of smoking marijuana, so they came up with an idea to make this medicine more user-friendly.
Weast said that their idea is to have a two-sided marijuana dispensary. One side is for marijuana flowers and concentrates, and the other side is a kitchen that allows customers to customize take-out meals that contain a certain amount of medical THC properties.
“The judges gave us very useful criticism but also seemed to like our idea very much, so we’re hopeful that we can launch our idea in this emerging industry,” said Shine.
Jacquelyn Schlicht pitches her idea during round one.
Even if a team doesn’t walk away with a cash prize, they still gain constructive criticism from the judges and experience pitching business ventures.
“I’ve been up here mentoring and judging teams for the past three years, and I really enjoy hearing all the student ideas while giving them some good feedback so they can ultimately make good pitches,” said Michael Ohn, Make-a-Pitch judge.
Ohn said that many of these contestants have really good ideas that he believes can actually be profitable.
The event had three cash prizes for the teams who made the best pitch.
1st Place, $500 – Drone Menu
2nd Place, $100 – Revolve Farms
Third Place, $50 – Bookie Rookie
“Part of what we do at the College of business is give students a choice,” said Crespy. “They can get a degree and work for someone else, or they can forge their own career, and follow their own path.”
Make-a-Pitch is the first step for CMU students to become the worlds next richest entrepreneur and global leader.
Check out this website to view other start-up companies launched by college students.
https://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/the-20-of-the-coolest-college-start-ups-ever
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