Northern Michigan University's College of Business will host its annual New Business Venture Competition on Thursday, March 16. The event features a trade show and business after hours event, followed by two “Shark Tank”-style competitions: the Mini Pitch, which students of any major can apply for by the Friday, Feb. 24 deadline; and the Big Pitch. The campus and Marquette communities are encouraged to attend.
The Big Pitch is a competition for individual NMU students or groups to present their business ideas to a panel of judges for a chance to win cash prizes and consultation service packages to help get their ideas off the ground. It encourages entrepreneurial activism by recognizing and rewarding those who present detailed plans on designing and creating new business enterprises, drawing on their own ideas and inventions or those of others.
The competition provides a forum for students to present their new venture plans to investors; receive meaningful feedback; have the opportunity to start a new business; and apply classroom learning to real-world projects. Plans must propose ventures that will be financially profitable, create new jobs and be lawful.
The Big Pitch is being generously supported in part through an endowment created by Mr. Ervin Kranberg '71 BS. Business consultation awards are provided by Kendricks, Bordeau, Keefe, Seavoy & Larsen, PC; and Tailored CPAs.
The College of Business will partner with Invent@NMU to host the Mini Pitch for a second year. Similar to the Big Pitch, but with a format that is more fast-paced and informal, the Mini Pitch allows individual students or groups to present a business idea to a panel of judges. The top eight teams that advance to the live event will present a five-minute business pitch and are encouraged to make it fun and engaging. Four cash prizes valued at $500 each will be awarded to the winning teams. Students can apply online to submit an application by Feb. 24.
The March 16 public events begin with a trade show from 2-4 p.m. for student competitors to showcase their business ideas. The trade show provides an opportunity for the competitors to interact with the judges and audience.
Business After Hours, in partnership with Lake Superior Community Partnership, will begin at 5 p.m., providing a casual networking opportunity for competitors, judges and attendees. The Mini Pitch will follow at 6 p.m. and the Big Pitch at 7. All events will take place at NMU's Forest Roberts Theatre.
Find more information about the Annual New Business Venture Competition here.