WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Sept. 9, 2014 — West Liberty University’s Fourth Entrepreneurs Pitch Contest will be held from 6 – 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25 in the soon-to-open Wheeling Brewing Company, located at 2247 Market St. in the historic Centre Market neighborhood of Wheeling.
Entrepreneurs interested in submitting a new business idea or invention for presentation should email Dr. Carrie White at cwhite@westliberty.edu for an application. The deadline for the contest application is Sept. 22, 2014.
“We can’t wait to hear what our local entrepreneurs are pitching this time. We hope to have six to seven pitchers and the winner gets $2,500 in funding as a prize,” said Dr. Carrie White, director of WLU’s Center for Entrepreneurship. “This is a great experience for our students and gives them real life experience at business development, startups and networking.”
Several successful businesses have come out of previous WLU pitch contests including past participants Vishesh Maskey with Spatial Decision Support System and Mason Dixon BBQ Co., founded by WLU alumni Patrick Fisher.
Fisher claims that the feedback he learned from the Pitch Contest, along with the prize money, helped him get started in his catering and food stand business, located in Moundsville.
White included a survey to past pitchers that allowed them to comment on the Pitch Contest.
“Responses have been favorable and the participants have been overwhelmingly grateful. Our Pitch Contest offers networking and incentive that is valuable, whether you win or not,” she said.
Chad Hill, founder of the Wheeling Brewing Company, took part in the Pitch Contest held this past March and found it helpful.
“The resources and networking offered me a real benefit. Carrie and the WLU entrepreneurship program are an excellent resource for business development,” Hill said. Wheeling Brewing Company is providing space for the Pitch Contest but will not be open for business during the event.
The Pitch Contest is open to the public and offers an interesting evening of learning about what is in the works with new business ideas in Wheeling. The audience plays a big part in the contest and votes for the best ideas presented at the end of the hour-long presentation session. Then the prize-winning pitch is announced.
Gary E. West College of Business students are involved in many ways including organizing and participating in the program.
“Our Pitch Contests have been an enjoyable way to spur new business startups and encourage entrepreneurs. We hope to have another full house this September at Wheeling Brewing Company,” White said.
Sponsors include West Liberty University’s Gary E. West College of Business and Center for Entrepreneurship and the Regional Economic Development Partnership. The Center for Entrepreneurship is a division of the Gary E. West College of Business and offers catalyst for innovation and job creation in West Virginia and the region.
Entrepreneurs seeking more information should contact White at 304-336-8159 or at cwhite@westliberty.edu.