Business Idea Competition Dec. 11 at MCC

A student accepts the first place award at the Boost Competition in Overbrook Theater

College and high school entrepreneurs from three counties will compete for cash prizes on Thursday, Dec. 11, when they will present their business ideas during the EMERGE Elevator Pitch Competition at Muskegon Community College from 4-8 p.m. in Stevenson Center Room 1100.

The top three student winners will receive $1000, $750 and $500, respectively.

A panel of experts from Junior Achievement, SCORE, and GR Current judges the competition. Each participant has up to two minutes to present his or her case.

The competition takes its name from the imagined scenario of an individual being able to describe his or her business venture to a stranger in the time it take to ride an elevator between floors.

“Any business owner should be prepared to give a two-minute elevator pitch at any time,” said David Stradal, Chair of Muskegon Community College’s business department and entrepreneur program.  “You just never know who you’re going to run into, whether it is in a business situation or a social setting. In our culture, it is very natural when you get introduced to someone, to be asked, ‘Oh, what do you do?’ That’s a perfect opportunity to roll out your elevator pitch.”

The competition is open to the public.  For more information, contact Dee Crews at (231) 777-0378.