BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 CALSCALE:GREGORIAN PRODID:iCalendar-Ruby BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Networking & Social Event DESCRIPTION:Sixth annual Ohio University Eastern Shark Challenge to promote economic growth by encouraging innovation \n\nBy Hardika Singh\n\n \n\nOhi o University Eastern will virtually host the sixth annual Shark Challenge t o promote economic growth in the Ohio Valley by encouraging innovation amon g college students. \n\n \n\nThe event\, sponsored by TechGROWTH Ohio\, wil l strengthen Ohio University students’ entrepreneurial skills by asking the m to present business pitches. “Pitch competitions and events like the Ohio University Eastern Shark Challenge help generate new and unique solutions to everyday problems\, which can lead to some great new startup opportuniti es\,” said Jane New\, TechGROWTH Ohio director. \n\n \n\nSelected teams wit h engaging business proposals will advance to the final round at 6 p.m. on April 13. The winning team will be awarded a $1\,500 cash price\, which can be used to further promote the business idea. Judges will be Wendy Anderso n\, director of St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce\, Ed Looman\, mana ger of engagement and partnerships for OhioSE\, Paul Benedict\, executive d irector for Ohio University’s Center for Entrepreneurship\, and Ken Young\, a global credit consultant who previously served as credit and collection manager of PepsiCo Beverages Canada.\n\n \n\n“For many years\, the OHIO Eas tern Shark Challenge has provided students the opportunity to apply knowled ge from a myriad of fields\, such as marketing\, operations\, finance\, acc ounting\, science and social science classes\,” said Michael Schor\, who is the event organizer and an associate professor of instruction at the Colle ge of Business. “The event also helps build presentation skills and offers an opportunity to connect with key local entrepreneurs and business owners. ”\n\n \n\nAlicia Staub\, an OHIO Zanesville senior studying integrated heal thcare studies and applied management and a first-time competitor\, said th e event has helped her interact with her teachers and other fellow students on a personal level\, thus improving her college experience. Staub said sh e is excited to use her creativity to collaborate on innovation\, which in turn\, has helped her learn about other communities.\n\n \n\n“I always avoi d public speaking\, but this event pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone\,” Staub said. “In the future\, I know I’ll look back to this event wh enever I’m communicating with important public figures and business leaders .”\n\n \n\nStudents are encouraged to develop innovative ideas in the proce ss\, product or business model stages. They will be judged on how well thei r products\, equipment\, staffing\, tools\, business location\, target mark et\, advertising\, competitor analysis\, profitability and financing\, and exit strategy are described and articulated in the business proposal. \n\n \n\n“Answering the tough questions about how a business can actually run or how a startup can be successful will only help the participants later in t heir careers\,” said Kyle Sutphin\, a 2017 OHIO alumnus with dual degrees i n communication studies and marketing\, who is also on the event planning t eam. “Networking opportunities with local businesspeople\, who can offer in sight on life after school\, will allow for great opportunities to the comm unity\, participants and planning team.”\n\n \n\nIn the competition itself\ , students are asked to describe the impact the innovation will have on the local economy and the employment rate. To prepare for this\, prior to the event\, Crystal Lorimor\, executive director at Belmont County Community Im provement Corporation\, and Sutphin provided an overview in a separate sess ion\, “Regional Economy\, Culture and Economic Development\,” with an intro duction to Southeast Ohio. \n\n \n\n“I think this event is making the Ohio Valley a better place to live by giving opportunities to students to share ideas on how to improve their surroundings through economic innovation\,” s aid Nolan Nicholas\, who is a second-year undecided major at OHIO and an ev ent organizer.\n\n \n\nEach team must consist of two or three members enrol led at the same institution. On a three-member team\, one member can be a g raduate student or a high school student on college option at the represent ed institution. For more information\, reach out to Schor and the event org anizers at ouesharkteam@ohio.edu.\n\n \n\nThe stream of the Tuesday April 1 3 final round (6:00 p.m. start time) will be accessible at https://www.yout ube.com/watch?v=eZH9c-Uhdms DTEND:20210414T000000Z DTSTAMP:20241123T223822Z DTSTART:20210413T220000Z LOCATION: SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Ohio University Eastern Shark Challenge UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_36324765039903 URL:https://calendar.ohio.edu/event/ohio_university_eastern_shark_challenge END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR