Entrepreneurship is

Alive

Student Pitchfest draws interest from technology driven business

students

IACBE April 9, 2014

Dr. Mary Beth McCabemmccabe@nu.edu

What makes a student entrepreneur?

A variety of different skillsets, like a “jack of all trades” (Lazear, 2005)

Student entrepreneurs are different. Politis, D, Winborg, J., Dahlstrand, A. (2012) Exploring the resource logic of student entrepreneurs.

Creating entrepreneurs from student scientists (2002) Tan and Subramanniam. Science and the student entrepreneur

Promotion of event: earned, shared and, owned media.

http://youtu.be/tyXyex3zDgI

McCabe, left, with judges and finalists

How can I create an event like this at my school?

Name your Student Pitchfest Event, featuring student business presentations (3-5 minutes) and create a depository

Students submit their business plans and committee selects finalists

Train mentor coaches and select judges

Select Winner/s to feature at future larger event

Certificates to all who students who presented

Set your budget: Ours was $600 in prizes. Grand prize team wins $500, second place $100, Top three teams get 1 year student memberships of academic organization

Create realistic deadlines for submission/selections

Next year, partner with International competition for winner.

References

Lazear, Edward P, Entrepreneurship (2005). Journal of Labor Economics, Vol.23(4), p.649-680

Politis, D, Winborg, J., Dahlstrand, A. Exploring the resource logic of student entrepreneurs (2012) International Small Business Journal. Vol. 30(6) pp.659-683.

Tan, Leo Wee Hin and Subramaniam, R, Science, Science and the Student Entrepreneur, 2002, Nov 22, 2002 p. 1556.