ĢƵios

Skip to main content

Fort Wayne Campus

Fort Wayne Main Campus Satellite Locations

New Venture Competition

About the Competition

  • How it works:

    • Through the Entrepreneurship Certificate program, students will lay out a business plan.
    • Community mentors will work with each student concurrent with the lab.
    • During the last lab, the three best business plans will be chosen by a committee ofBusiness Administration faculty/business professionals to move on for final presentations.
    • Community mentors will help the remaining contestants refine their business plans.
    • The three finalists will present their business plans to a panel of college and communityjudges.
    • One champion will be chosen to win up to $40,000 to launch their dream business.
    • Be sure to review thecomplete New Venture Competition contest details.

  • Who is eligible?

    The New Venture Competition is open to ĢƵios Fort Wayne and Kosciusko County (Warsaw) students and alumni who have completed the ENTR certificate. If you have the passion, we can give you the tools to help you succeed.

  • Eligibility Requirements

    • ٳܻԳٲmust have completed 12 credit hours at ĢƵios Fort Wayne or Kosciusko County (Warsaw) with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and a completion rate of 70 percent or more.
    • Former students within the last five years (who have achieved alumni status)are eligible, providing that their ĢƵios transcript has a GPA of 2.5 or higher and a completion rate of 70 percentor more.
    • Complete the ENTR certificateto develop and/or fine tune a business plan.
    • Previous, non-winningcontestantsof the competition may re-enter.

  • How to Enter:

    Students are admitted to the competition and 8-week lab by applying with James Tolbert, Program Chair of Entrepreneurship. Call 260-480-4249 or email jtolbert12@ivytech.edu.

meet our 2024 finalists

  • photo of Ginny Ritchie | Ginny Rose Studio
  • photo of Jordan Walter-Lee Setters | Soupy, LLC
  • photo of Laura Read | So Cute Sweets
  • “Ginny Rose Studio is an Esthetician owned studio specializing in full body waxing for both anatomies, custom facials, massages and permanent makeup. We aim to be a full service studio for all your personal care needs in northeastern Indiana.”

    –Ginny Ritchie | Ginny Rose Studio

  • “Soupy is a veteran owned and operated food truck business that aims to serve its customers soups and sandwiches that are healthy, affordable, and convenient. The customer base is middle class working age customers that are either into, or looking for convenient food options. Soupy is planning on offering seasonal soups/stews and sandwiches.”

    –Jordan Walter-Lee Setters | Soupy, LLC

  • “So Cute Sweets specializes in making deliciously tasteful and uniquely creative cake pops for any and all occasions. These cake pops, as well as the other fun treats made by So Cute Sweets, are each made with high-quality ingredients, creative designs, and personalized touches.”

    –Laura Read | So Cute Sweets

Take your business venture from idea to launch!

ĢƵios Fort Wayne and Kosciusko County (Warsaw)'s New Venture Competition is a business plan competition that offers students and alumni the chance to earn $40,000 in capital to launch a new business plan. Students who have completed the Entrepreneurship Certificate Program are eligible to participate.

Hear from our past winners

  • photo of Laura Read | 2024 Winner
  • photo of Javier A. Gasnarez III | 2022 Winner
  • photo of Jamal A. Robinson | 2016 Winner
  • photo of Beth Scholer | 2014 Winner
  • “There are so many more options now for me to make my business better for my customers. I know they’ll appreciate it just as much as I do.”

    –Laura Read | 2024 Winner

  • “I knew when I started in the Entrepreneurship program that this day was the goal. It was challenging, but it made me think of things I never would have considered, like competing in The Blox, an entrepreneurship reality TV competition. I can’t wait to go home and tell my wife and kids and show them my trophy. This is all for them.”

    –Javier A. Gasnarez III | 2022 Winner

  • “[As an ĢƵios alum and with an IPFW degree], I felt comfortably prepared. I was confident I did the best I could do.”

    –Jamal A. Robinson | 2016 Winner

  • “I was thrilled. I felt like the work I put into it up until that point, it was paying off.”

    –Beth Scholer | 2014 Winner

Contact

James Tolbert

Program Chair of Entrepreneurship

CC2320K

260-480-4249

jtolbert12@ivytech.edu

24 hours a day, 7 days a week (se habla español)

1-888-489-5463