A Kansas State University competition has rewarded 38 students and 16 business ideas with more than $20,000 in prize money.
The K-State Launch competition gives students experience in the process of making a business proposal. In total, 365 students registered for the competition this year, making it the sixth straight year of record entries.
K-State Launch is organized by the Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship in the College of Business Administration and is open to all university students. To compete, students create a feasible written plan, deliver a business pitch and present to a panel of judges that consists of local entrepreneurs, bankers and investment experts. Two marketing students were members of the third-place team.
“This competition is a great way to allow students to think creatively and explore their entrepreneurial spirits,” said Chad Jackson, interim director of the Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship. “The real-world experience of pitching a business in front of the type of business experts we have on our panel is invaluable to these students.”
The three finalists to win the top prizes in this year’s K-State Launch were Kansas City Spaces (awarded $6,000), Concordia Cattle Health (awarded $4,000) and Jubeo Social (awarded $2,000).
Jubeo Social, an idea of Hayley Kenner, senior in marketing, Ellsworth; Cameron Kietzman, sophomore in mass communications, Lenexa; and Brandon Painter, senior in marketing, and Drew Martens, senior in fine arts, both from Shawnee, won $2,000 collectively for third place. Their pitch revolved around the creation of a complete digital advertising agency to educate and advocate social media in both professional and personal use.
The remaining 13 prize-winning business ideas were awarded checks ranging from $500-$1,000.