Community entrepreneurs and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) students presented their business ideas before an expert panel of judges and a live audience at the Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition on the WVU Tech campus. The judges and attendees selected the winners, who received strategic feedback and prize money to help bring their ideas into reality and further the students’ educational journeys.
Winners, judges and competition coordinators at the Pitch Southern WW Business Idea Competition (from left to right): Abed Mihrim, Ashley Parrish-Mihrim, Kaleb Cole (back), Natasha Zoe, Dr. Angela Peterson, Mike Jarrell (back), Judy Moore, Ryan Thorn (back), Connor Golden, Jennifer Camarillo, Corey Lacy and Diana Woods
The West Virginia Hive, in partnership with the WVU Tech Launch Lab, conducted the competition.
Diana Woods, director of the WVU Tech Launch Lab and coordinator of the event, says the following entrepreneurs/business owners and student entrepreneurs were selected as having the best business ideas of the competition:
Ideation Division
One prize – $1,000: Kaleb Cole and Payton Hanshaw – WVU Tech
Incubation Division
First prize – $2,000: JarHead Farm – Monroe County
Second prize – $1,000: Paws N Pals Doggy Daycare – Raleigh County
Third prize – $750: Magnolia Real Estate and Property Development LLC – Fayette County
Overall Audience Favorite – $250: JarHead Farm – Monroe County
Cash prizes provided by private donations from sponsors to the West Virginia Hive will be used to advance the winners’ business ideas. United Bank and the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA)—gold sponsors—and Stephens Auto and WV Auto Buyers, Beckley Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce and Fayette County Chamber of Commerce—bronze sponsors—donated the cash prizes.
“The presenters did an excellent job and, more importantly, learned and grew professionally through this real-world experience—from formulating their business ideas to building them out for a pitch before a live audience and our expert judges, says Judy Moore, executive director of the West Virginia Hive and deputy director of NRGRDA. “We’d like to thank our community sponsors for providing the generous cash prizes, which are deeply appreciated by our winners. Our Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea competition encourages innovation, inclusivity and is a major element of our efforts to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem in southern West Virginia.”
Judges for the evening’s competition included:
• Ryan Thorn, rural development West Virginia state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Mike Jarrell, president of Paramount Development Corporation
• Connor Golden, business banking portfolio manager at United Bank
• Angela Peterson, Ph.D., CMA, associate professor in the Department of Accounting and Management at WVU Tech
Those in attendance also had the opportunity to vote for their favorite pitch.
Judges in the first round who selected the entrepreneurs and student groups who would pitch their business ideas at the competition included:
• Dr. Jo Harris, president emeritus of BridgeValley Community and Technical College
• Jennifer Wood, chief of staff/executive director of university engagement at WVU Tech
• Mike Fulton, director of public affairs and advocacy for the Asher Agency
Woods says eligibility targeted WVU Tech students and faculty as well as residents or businesses located in Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, Summers, Webster, Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe, Mercer, Wyoming, McDowell, Logan and Mingo counties, along with WVU Tech students, faculty and staff.
