The following is a news release from Idaho State University.<\/p>\n
POCATELLO \u2014 The Idaho State University Business Pitch Competition, funded by the Reed E. Ostermeier Entrepreneurship Endowment and in partnership with PitchVantage, invites high school students from across Southeast Idaho to pitch a business idea for their chance to win big scholarship prizes. Presented by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) within the College of Business, this event gives students the opportunity to not only win scholarship money, it also helps them become better public speakers, learn about entrepreneurship as a career and even make their business dream a reality. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was inspired to support entrepreneur programs at ISU, specifically this competition, because it really embodies the spirit of my brother,\u201d said Shane Ostermeier, who established and named the endowment that supports the competition in honor of his brother. \u201cReed had an entrepreneurial spirit \u2013 he took on many business ventures, everything from farming to personal training.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first-place winner of the competition will receive a $4,500 scholarship to ISU, second will receive $2,000 and third will receive $1,000. Non-advancing semifinalists will receive $200.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want the winners of this competition to have a path to their dreams, and know that hard work pays off,\u201d said Ostermeier. \u201cThis competition is also a chance for high school students to throw out any business idea they have with no barriers, only opportunities. They shouldn\u2019t be afraid to enter this competition, regardless of where they live or how they grew up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The competition will be divided into three sections \u2013 first round, semifinals and finals. The first round is completed via PitchVantage \u2013 an AI presentation software that gives real-time feedback on presentations and allows participants to record their pitch as many times as they\u2019d like before making a final submission.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ISU High School Business Pitch Competition is committed to giving every student a fair and equal chance to shine,\u201d said Clinical Associate Professor and main coordinator of the event, Josh Thompson. \u201cBy partnering with PitchVantage, we\u2019re able to use AI technology to provide consistent and unbiased initial judging. This ensures all participants are evaluated by the same standard, leveling the playing field and allowing their ideas to stand on their own merit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Semifinals will be held live over Zoom the week of Oct. 13. Three students will be selected to move on to the final round, which will be held in-person the morning of Friday, Oct. 24 in the ICCU Bengal Alumni Center at Idaho State University. Winners will be announced at the conclusion of the final round. All scholarship prizes are exclusively for new, first-time ISU freshmen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis competition underscores the College of Business\u2019s commitment to cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs who will drive the future of Idaho,\u201d said Interim Dean and ICCU Endowed Professor of Management, Dr. Alex Bolinger. \u201cWe are so grateful to Shane Ostermeier for his vision and generosity in funding this competition. We are also incredibly thankful to Josh Thompson for his terrific work in organizing this event. Please encourage high school students that you know to take advantage of this unique opportunity!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to continue building an entrepreneurial spirit here in Idaho,\u201d added Thompson. \u201cBeyond the competition itself, our goal is to support educators and students by sharing resources, templates, and real-world examples they can put into practice. I\u2019m always happy to visit classrooms, speak with students, and help spark the kind of innovative thinking that drives entrepreneurship forward.\u201d <\/p>\n