Enterprise suggestions to be pitched in regional contest | News, Sports, Jobs

WELLSBURG — Various folks or groups with suggestions for new enterprise ventures will vie for many thousands of dollars to assist them make their objectives a reality in a contest to be held Tuesday at Brooke Higher College.

The Ohio Valley Enterprise Alliance Corp. will hold its 1st Enterprise Pitch Contest at five:30 p.m. in the school’s auditorium.

Admission is no cost for the occasion, which OVBAC member David Klick expects to be very fascinating.

“We have a lot of individuals who have place a lot of time and believed into their projects,” mentioned Klick, noting the seven competitors from Brooke and Hancock counties with ambitions for a wide variety of enterprises.

Klick is co-chairing the occasion with Dr. Heather Stone and Joan Simonetti.

He is amongst numerous alliance members with previous ties to the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce and the former Brooke County Financial Improvement Authority, which had teamed for many years to hold enterprise pitch contests.

“This year I’d say we have the very best applicants due to the fact I’ve been involved with the pitch. And it is the most significant pot for the winners,” he mentioned.

Klick mentioned thanks to the generosity of regional firms and other organizations, the group will divide $eight,000 amongst the two winners, with the biggest quantity going to the 1 that areas 1st.

He noted the prize dollars will be disbursed as the two enterprise ideas are created.

Klick mentioned the contest is related in format to television’s “Shark Tank,” with the contestants provided a restricted time to provide their proposals to a panel of 5 judges.

The 5 are: Luke Diserio, chief executive officer of American Muscle Docks and Fabrication Kelly Jeffers, winner of the final enterprise pitch Ingrid Loy, a advertising instructor at West Liberty University Jay McLaughlin, vice president of accounting and finance at Wheeling-Nippon Steel and Weirton lawyer Michael Simon.

Each and every of the contestants has been instructed to prepare a presentation that involves estimated charges for their endeavor, their targeted marketplace and their vision for the enterprise in two to 5 years.

“We have a lot of individuals who have place a lot of time and believed into their projects,” mentioned Klick.

To assist the contestants prepare, the Ohio Valley Enterprise Alliance has invited them to the West Virginia Smaller Enterprise Improvement Center’s Inspiring You series of seminars and referring them to other sources.

Held at the Brooke County Public Library, the no cost seminars offer you guidance to aspiring and current enterprise owners in subjects ranging from building a enterprise strategy to advertising their goods and solutions to possible clients to understanding economic statements.

In addition to the event’s sponsors, Klick expressed thanks to the chambers of commerce of Weirton, Follansbee and Wellsburg, which also have supplied assistance and Brooke County college officials for producing the auditorium obtainable for the group.

He mentioned the group hopes to spur financial development all through the Northern Panhandle and sees events like the contest as a way to assistance that.

“We believe this could definitely be sufficient to move the needle for a person,” mentioned Klick.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

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