West Liberty University’s Fifth Entrepreneurs Pitch Contest will be held from 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, March 26 at Grand Vue Park, located in Moundsville, W.Va. This is the first time that the business start-up event has taken place outside Ohio County.
Local entrepreneurs and small business owners are encouraged to submit their ideas soon to get in on the pitching action. The contest offers a $2,500 award to the winning business presentation.
“The deadline for the contest application is March 19,” explained Dr. Carrie White, director of WLU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and associate professor of business at its Gary E. West College of Business. Any interested entrepreneur can email White at cwhite@westliberty.edu for an application.
“The pitch contest is an enjoyable way to network, pitch new ideas and potentially receive funding based on audience participation. Our pitch contests have fueled six businesses locally now and we are pleased to bring the event to Marshall County for the first time,” said White.
“Our pitch contests also offer our business students real life experience with business development and planning as they assist in the pitch contests and work with small business startup, so it’s a very positive learning experience for them too.”
Some of the successful businesses that have come out of previous WLU pitch contests including past participants Vishesh Maskey with Spatial Decision Support System, Mason Dixon BBQ Co., founded by WLU alumni Patrick Fisher, and most recently, Happy Goat Yoga, owned by Lindsay Schooler.
Schooler found that it wasn’t just the money she won from the pitch contest that made a huge difference as she opened her new yoga studio in North Wheeling.
“The personal and business connections I made at the pitch contest have proven just as valuable as the grant. Wheeling businessmen like Les DeFelice and Pete Holloway donate their time as judges and continue to make themselves available. If you have an idea, pitch it!” Schooler said.
Fisher claims that the feedback he heard at a previous pitch contest, along with the prize money, helped him to get started in his catering and food stand business, which is now growing.
“Past participants have been overwhelmingly grateful for the experience of participating in our pitch contests. These events offer real incentive and business planning feedback that is invaluable, whether you win or not,” she said.
The Pitch Contest is open to the public both as participants and audience members. The audience enjoys the chance to learn about what is in the works locally with new business ideas and plays a part when voting for the best ideas presented at the end of the hour-long presentation session. Then the prize-winning pitch is announced.
Sponsors include West Liberty University’s Gary E. West College of Business and Center for Entrepreneurship and the Regional Economic Development Partnership. The Center for Entrepreneurship is a division of the Gary E. West College of Business and offers catalyst for innovation and job creation in West Virginia and the region.
Entrepreneurs seeking more information should contact White at 304-336-8159 or at cwhite@westliberty.edu.
