Business Pitch Competition - Northwood University

Northwood University’s Third Annual Entrepreneurial Business Pitch Competition 2012

Northwood’s 3^rd Annual Business Startup Pitch Competition provided ten group participants an opportunity to start their dream! This year’s judges were Chris Moultrup, Clarence Rivette, and Terry O’Brien. The donation of $5000 was again graciously provided by the Bauervic Foundation. Winning the top prize of $2000 was Jack Smith who pitched his College Connect startup. With the money, Smith is able to participate in some large college recruitment fairs in England and promote the business better. The $1000 second place award went to Carter Brochu & Octavio Hernandez and their E-Sale Tags concept. Third Place went to Mitchell Brent, who can now grow his MyTrophy business to the next level and begin attending soccer retail trade shows. Glambition, which Allison Gustafson started in high school, won $750 that she will use to develop a new line of products.

Through the success of the NU Business Startup Pitch Competition on Northwood’s Michigan Campus, the Alden B. Dow Center for Creativity & Enterprise is looking to develop a competition at both the Florida and Texas Campus. In the future, an intercollegiate competition between all three campuses is the goal. If there are any alumni interested in volunteering as judges for future competitions or providing specific donations to future NU Business Startup Pitch Competition, please email John Gustincic, gustinci@northwood.edu

2011 Business Pitch Competition Group Winners

Northwood University’s Second Annual Entrepreneurial Business Pitch Competition 2011

This year’s Northwood University’s Business Startup Pitch Competition provided fourteen participants the opportunity to launch their dream. The second business competition in NU history, diverse enterprising concepts were presented to a judging panel to win a part of a $5,000 donor gift. The donation was generously provided by the Bauervic Foundation and was offered to help grow and cultivate the entrepreneurial new collegiate ventures in the State of Michigan.

Pat Leonard of the Bauervic Foundation, had the opportunity to witness these entrepreneurially minded students compete. Pat enthusiastically supports Northwood because she believes Northwood’s program allows students to achieve great enterprising potential. This pitch competition encourages students to think creatively and also equips them with building blocks and experience to try on the coat of entrepreneurship.

The night started off with an introduction and pitch process overview from John Gustincic, the Director of the Alden B. Dow Center for Creativity & Enterprise. The auditorium was filled with competitors and observers, some of which were visiting high school students considering Northwood as their collegiate choice. Student pitch presenters represented six majors with ideas ranging from a mobile grilled-cheese food truck, disposable sponge, digital music production, and Paleo dietary products.

The judging panel of entrepreneurial experts included Chris Moultrup NU ’07 from the Mid-Michigan Innovation Center, Jeff Baldwin NU ’11 who works for Dow Chemical, Leslie Ann Pilling owner of Presence II Productions, and Gordy Tormoulon, President of Tormoulon and Motors, IL.

Judging these fourteen individuals was not easy. After the pitches were finished, the judges had a brief, intense meeting to choose the top seven seed award winners, dividing the $5000 into one $2000 award, one $1000 award, one $750 award, one $500 award, and three $250 awards. Those who did not receive seed cash did not go home empty handed. Valuable written feedback from the judges provided in a packet to all participants, providing participants further commercialization input on their ideas as well as feedback on pitching style and potential improvements.

2011 Business Pitch Winner Jeremy Klepal

2011 Business Pitch Competition Judge Panel

Northwood University’s First Annual Entrepreneurial Business Pitch Competition 2010

Ideas came to life at the 1st One Northwood Business Pitch Startup Competition last November on the Michigan campus. In a pilot competition, sixteen participants pitched their enterprising concepts to a judging panel to win a part of a $5,000 donor gift to get their idea rolling. The donation was generously provided by the Bauvervic Foundation and was offered to help grow and cultivate the entrepreneurial new collegiate ventures in the State of Michigan.

Beginning the competition, an introduction and pitch process overview from John Gustincic, the director of the Alden B. Dow Center for Creativity & Enterprise. About 40 spectators listened intently to the pitches. Student pitch presenters represented six majors, and included freshman, MBA students and students from ADP. The ideas that were pitched also had great variety, including an inner-city bicycle taxi service, niche financial services, and an online recording company. The judging panel consisted of Dr. Timothy Nash, Chris Moultrup NU ‘07, Lois Wilkins DeVos ’04, Paul Fisher, Dow Corning.

The judging panel chose the top seven seed award winners, dividing the $5000 into one $2000 award, two $1000 awards and four $250 awards. Those who did not receive seed cash did not go home empty handed, but received valuable written feedback from the judges.

Through the success of the pilot program on Northwood’s Michigan Campus we are looking to develop a competition at both the Florida and Texas Campus. In the future we hope to make this an intercollegiate competition between all three campuses. If there are any alumni interested in volunteering as judges for future competitions or providing specific donations to future NU Business Startup Competition, please email John Gustincic, gustinci@northwood.edu