From left to right: contestants Haddie Katz, Jonathan Barrientos, Colin Baugh, Blake Quarrie, Bree Page, and Lili.
BLOOMINGTON –The Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵios’s Bloomington campus hosted its fourth annual Duke It Out Business Pitch Competition on Tuesday, Nov. 12, powered by Duke Energy.
Six Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵios students had three minutes each to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges. The winners with the top three pitches earned cash prizes up to $500 and free business consulting from the Cook Center for Entrepreneurship.
Haddie Katz, associate of science in nursing (RN) student, won first place. She was awarded a $500 prize for her business idea – a Bloomington-based midwifery birthing center. Colin Baugh, human services and social work student, won second place. She was awarded $300 for her business idea – Mrs. Bs Micro-Catering (weeknight meal delivery for families). Bree Page, human services student, won third place. She was awarded $200 for her business idea, B.R.I.T.E. (Building Résumés & Information Technology Experience). It is a non-profit business designed to assist the transient population in Bloomington, Ind. become skilled in developing IT and related job skills.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵios students from all academic areas were invited to apply for a spot to Duke It Out. The competitors attended workshops at the Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship and were coached by Cook Center staff and area entrepreneurs.
Competitors are studying in a variety of academic programs from software development to supply chain management. Business ideas included a small-scale catering company, a medical storage product, a nonprofit for IT education, a midwifery birthing center, a production company, and for-profit college dormitories.
Duke it Out judges are Jim Silberstein, entrepreneurship program chair emeritus; Dr. Sydney Mmadi, entrepreneurship program chair and associate professor of business; Allan Buhr, adjunct professor for entrepreneurship; and Christy Page, adjunct professor for entrepreneurship.
For more information about the event, contact Jack Dreesen at jdreesen@ivytech.edu or visit .
About Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵios
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵios is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵios has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
