Competitions encourage budding entrepreneurs
PSU Panther Pitch, a live campus-wide competition, encourages students to propose business innovation or entrepreneurial opportunities that address local, national, or international societal challenges. Students submit proposals for review and screening, and finalists pitch their concepts before panels of expert judges and a live audience. Cash prizes are given to winners to support the launch of their ventures.
Screening committees of students, faculty, and alumni review student entries and finalists are selected based on four criteria: the extent to which the idea is innovative and creative, addresses an important business or societal need, clearly identifies consumers and beneficiaries, and to which it solves the problem posed.
The program was an immediate hit on campus when it was launched and its popularity is growing, says faculty coordinator Professor Bonnie Bechard, who teaches Social Entrepreneurship and other business courses. “In addition to students interested in business careers, the event attracts proposals from a wide range of majors as well as First-Year Seminar students.”
This year’s Pitch took place Friday, November 9. Congratulations to the winners!
- First Place: Morgan Schmit and Noah Fiske, Freight Farm upcycled shipped container to grow fresh produce
- Second Place and People’s Choice Award: Molly Timmins, Addiction Recovery App
- Third Place: Brianna Warnick, Disposable pillowcase for keeping small animal cages clean
The live-streamed event is archived and can be viewed below. ■ Peter Lee Miller
Tags: business entrepreneur Pitch
