Beginning this semester,† the Center for Entrepreneurship is sponsoring an Idea Competition for the students at the College. The competition is designed to challenge individual students or teams of students to develop their entrepreneurial skills by submitting proposals and solutions to problems and/or opportunities, both in our local and campus community and with regards to the global community.
The competition is hoping to inspire students to think creatively about particular innovations, new products, services, businessí or not-for-profits.† All ideas are welcomed by the panel of judges for the Idea Competition, and they will be critiqued and judged based on appropriateness, community need, logistical feasibility, social responsibility, and passion and creativity.
The idea for having this competition this year came from the Center for Entrepreneurship faculty, all of whom make up part of the panel of overseeing advisors and judges for the competition.† There are seven members of the program committee ó four entrepreneur faculty members including James Levin, Director of Entrepreneurship; John Jewell, a psychology professor; Matthew Mariola, an environmental studies professor, and Amyaz Moledina, an economics professor and the director of social entrepreneurship on campus.† Paul Edmiston, a chemistry professor, and Nancy Grace, an English professor, are the two faculty-at-large representative members on the panel.† Finally, Sarah Harbottle í10, will be the student representative within the program committee.
With the diverse array of judges on the committee, the group hopes that a variety of opinions will be represented in critiquing the submitted ideas, for different members will see different aspects of the criteria for the ideas as most important and of the highest priority in establishing and recognizing the competition winners.
Overall, there will be 10 winning teams or individual submissions and the prizes will range from $200-$500.† Furthermore, the winners will be requested to deliver a two-minute pitch of their idea to the panel and a student audience on Dec. 3, after which a popular vote will be tallied and the winners will win an additional $500.
One of the 10† winning teams could also win an additional $500 and the prize for the best global idea, meaning the best plan that focuses on enhancing the global community at large, not just the local Wooster and college community.† This† Global idea prize was established in honor of† Global Entrepreneurship week, which starts Nov. 16.
Students are encouraged to submit their ideas either independently or within a group and all ideas are due by Nov. 16.† The application is simple and shortó literally, all you need is an idea. It doesnít even need to be that feasible or developed at this point.
Even with feasibility as one of the criteria for the ideas, it is one of many aspects that will be critiqued, and originality and creativity are also criteria and strongly encouraged.† ìOff-the-chart and outside-the-box [ideas] are welcomed,” said Levin.
Phase Two of the competition will be held in the spring semester, and will be more focused on the implementation of ideas.
If you wish to submit an idea, check out the E-Center (Entrepreneurship Center) Idea Competition Entry Form, available by request through the Administrator Dani Savage (Dsavage@wooster.edu) or at the E-Center office at 301 Morgan.† All entries must be submitted electronically to Savage by noon on Monday, Nov. 16th, 2009.