3:19 p.m., April 13, 2007--Three individual UD student entrepreneurs and two teams of two will pitch their business ventures and compete for the top two cash prizes of $2,000 and $500 in afternoon presentations beginning at 1:30 p.m., Friday, April 20, in 231 Alfred Lerner Hall.
The annual competition, which is organized by Barry Williams, director of the technical assistance program for the Delaware Small Business Development Center, and Scott Jones, professor of accounting, was created by UD's Lerner College of Business and Economics to encourage students to devise new ventures and build successful businesses. The competition is open to UD students from every discipline, and is intended to provide education and networking opportunities for young entrepreneurs who wish to launch fledgling businesses.
Finalists in this year's contest are collaborative team members Matt Russell from Smyrna and Chad Main from Bedford, N.H., both masters students in business and economics; Joseph D'Agostino, a senior finance and marketing major from Long Island, N.Y.; Louis Girifalco, a junior marketing major from Wilmington; Sean Darras, a senior engineering major from Leola, Pa.; and collaborative team members Mike Kobb, a senior finance major from Howell, N.J., and Mike Barugel, a senior arts and sciences major from Morganville, N.J.
During 15-minute presentations, each contestant or team will establish why their product or service is the best in an effort to “sell” their venture to members of the audience.
The lineup of this year's ventures includes Logic Consulting, a provider of services to the sports business community; Long Island Swim School, swimming instructions in the comfort of its client's own swimming pools; Black Box Music, a recording studio and full-service producer of local concerts and music events; Snapdeck, a product that allows customers to inexpensively add outdoor living space; and Mike's Backyard Restaurant, a themed restaurant located in downtown Newark.
The April 20 event is free and open to members of the University community. For more information, visit [www.lerner.udel.edu/bpc/].
