Winthrop students have the opportunity to pitch ideas and win money. On Feb. 27, Technology Incubator at Knowledge Park hosted its kickoff event for the College Student Innovation Challenge. The event was held to answer competitors’ questions and give advice before the main event.
The event is in partnership with Winthrop and Coroplast. Winthrop is hosting the event while Coroplast is donating the cash for the winners. Winners can win up to $1,500 for pitching their business model ideas.
“I think that it is a really good opportunity for students who have these interesting ideas and things they can think can really be something,” Téa Franco, an intern for the Technology Incubator, said. “[It] gives them a chance to figure out what it would be like to pitch that idea and it gets people listening to those ideas.”
Along with this, the competition offers real life experience for students who eventually want to pitch business model ideas.
“By doing this you get to learn and do something that you might get a chance to win either way [when] you participate in this kind of event. This is a great educational experience,” David Warner, executive director of Technology Incubator said, adding that students will be able to learn how to thoroughly pitch an idea that is desirable to customers.
Even if students do not win the competition, they are still able to obtain opportunities.
“A lot of people who have won this competition in the past have gone on to be Technology Incubator interns or the judges who also have businesses and connections are like ‘oh that’s really cool, let’s see if I can help you push this further,’” Franco said. “Also with the cash prizes that’s a really good opportunity to fund their idea. It’s a good learning experience and gives students support for their ideas.”
Cameron Mitchell, an executive assistant for Coroplast, was a former Winthrop student who participated in the event. She mentioned at the kickoff event that she was able to get her position by connecting with the judges who were at the competition from years past.
“Even if you don’t win you can still meet some really great people. It’s a great opportunity especially if you want to stay in the Rock Hill area,” she said.
This year will be the sixth year the event has taken place. Students had a mentoring session on March 2 where they were able to speak with advisors to help them further create their business model ideas.
The main event will be held on March 6 in Dina’s Place at 6 p.m. There will be four cash prize winners based on first to third place and the crowd pleaser.
Photo: Tate Walden/ The Johnsonian
