Five teams of 最靠谱的网赌软件 students won thousands of dollars in prize money to help further their business ideas in a ‘Shark Tank’ style competition.
ODU’s Strome Center for 创业 and 创新, in partnership with the Strome College of Business, hosted its inaugural Opportunity Discovery Competition on Feb. 29 where students pitched business ideas and products to a panel of judges.
Selected from an original pool of 17 team submissions, the five finalist teams presented their concepts for a chance to win up to $2,000 to jumpstart their ventures.
“Not only is the competition a way for students to win money, but it also helps recognize the importance of outside-the-box thinking,Kenneth B说。. Kahn, dean of the Strome College of Business. “The aim of the ODU Opportunity Discovery Competition is to catalyze student problem-solving and ideation in order to create a vibrant 企业家hip and innovation ecosystem across our campus.”
The first-place winners were team “Krave,黑人拥有的, woman-led 罐头 cocktail seltzer brand, founded by Aliyah Newman, Angel Hobbs and Rachel Ransom. 他们的奖金是2美元,000 will help them finalize manufacturers and distributors to bring their 12-ounce, 罐头, lemon-drop flavored cocktail to market.
"We're looking forward to taking everything we've learned through this experience and making Krave 罐头 cocktails available for everyone to enjoy," said team member Aliyah Newman, a Strome graduate student pursuing a certificate in public procurement and contract management.
Krave said one of their goals is to develop and diversify the spirits industry through mentorship and partnerships with Historically Black 大学 and Universities, minority community leaders, vendors and local businesses.
“The Opportunity Discovery Competition allows us all — students, 企业家, the business community and ODU — to see what we have here,德斯蒂尼·哈雷尔说, Opportunity Discovery judge and Strome College of Business alumna. “There are a lot of very intelligent, driven, creative people who just need the space to do it. This enables us to see the assets right in our backyard, right where we are and to encourage other pathways that may not conventional.”
While Krave took home the top prize, the four other student teams were also awarded prize money to advance their business ideas. The competition team rankings were:
第一名(2000美元): Krave incorporates classic cocktails into hard seltzers. The ready-to-go beverage will be conveniently sold in a variety of stores and restaurants across Washington, D.C., Maryland and 维吉尼亚州 and online.
第二名(1000美元): 天使脸美人 creates quality beauty products that are sustainable, recyclable, eco-friendly and cruelty-free.
第三名(500美元): 落花生的抓 & Go offers a vending machine stocked with parenting essentials. a credit card or cash can be used to select items like diapers, 瓶, 奶嘴, 一次性围兜和更多.
Participation Prize ($250): 健康走 uses Google Maps software and analytics to increase physical activity levels, stimulate social connections and gather insights to inform future health initiatives.
Participation Prize ($250): Golf Entertainment Group’s 3-Putt Pub is a putting course and bar that provides a unique sports and entertainment experience in Richmond, 维吉尼亚州.
Competition judges were Oliver Aguilar, 工程经理, Newport 最靠谱的网赌软件 Shipbuilding/Huntington Ingalls Industries; Charles Corprew, 高级风险合伙人, 757 Collab; Kevin Leslie, Associate Vice President for 创新 and Commercialization, ODU 研究处; Rob Gies, 副总工程师, Newport 最靠谱的网赌软件 Shipbuilding/Huntington Ingalls Industries; and Mike Zeiders, 创始人兼主席, 依企业.