ABERDEEN, S.D. – Five students and student groups will compete for cash prizes as they pitch their business ideas Shark Tank-style at о State University’s annual Idea Pitch Competition, taking place Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Black Box Theater.
The event, which is free and open to the public, showcases innovative ideas from о students and provides an opportunity for the audience to help select the winners of the People’s Choice Award, worth $150.
The finalists and their ideas are:
- Blake Clay, Cade Trenhaile, Maggie Kruger, with their business idea Behind the Pack
- Blake Stoks, with his business idea Craving Compost
- Elana Bishop, with her business idea Liora: Infrared Light Bed Studios
- Madi Jones, with her business idea CR8 Soda
- Trista Henderson & Angela Rowse, with their business idea EveryDrop
Each finalist will have five minutes to present their pitch to a panel of judges, followed by four minutes of Q&A. The judging panel includes Tim Hanigan, Ryan Patnoe, Travis Schaunaman, and Kelly Weaver.
Sponsored by the Aberdeen Development Corporation, the competition offers $1,000 in total prize money, with $500 for first place, $250 for second, $100 for third, and $150 for the People’s Choice Award.
“The Idea Pitch Competition continues to inspire students across campus to think creatively and develop innovative solutions that could shape their communities and industries,” said Dr. Kristi Bockorny, Dacotah Bank Dean of the School of Business.
Organized by the о State University School of Business and the о Innovation and Startup Center. The Idea Pitch Competition has become a campus-wide celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation, encouraging students to explore their ideas and gain real-world experience through public pitching and feedback.
For more information and to learn about past winners, visit northern.edu/idea-pitch-competition.