Heartland Community College event boosts student entrepreneurs

 

[May 14, 2020] 

Heartland Community College students will have a chance this week to show off their business skills with an opportunity to kick-start their own businesses.

At Elevating Entrepreneurs, four student entrepreneurs will partake in a Shark Tank-esque competition.

The four finalists submitted a business plan, feasibility study, financial plan, and video elevator pitch to the panel of Elevating Entrepreneurs judges. Daniel Gibson, Camron Hinman, Harlan Kupferschmid, and Kaitlyn Scott will make their pitch to a panel of local business owners in a virtual presentation on Friday, May 15.

The panel of judges includes Tim Rixstine of Molly Maid, Justin Bellas of Bellas Landscaping and Lil Beaver Brewery, Melissa Larson of Mad Strategy, and Donny Bounds of Donny B’s Gourmet Popcorn, joined by banker/tax strategist Gary Bressner. All of these local business owners are Heartland alumni.

Heartland Instructor of Accounting Paul Kelson says the event was created to showcase students in Heartland’s Small Business Management Certificate program and to promote the entrepreneurs on campus.

“This event allows students to share their ideas and get exposure for their businesses,” said Kelson, “They get to apply what they are learning in class by presenting their business to a panel of entrepreneur judges. We have four entrepreneurs who are Heartland Community College alums.”

While put into motion by Heartland’s STEM & Business department, all full-time and part-time HCC students are eligible to participate in Elevating Entrepreneurs.

The first and second place winners will receive $2,000 and $1,000, respectively, as financial support for their businesses.

From 11:00 am to 1:00pm on May 15 Heartland will hold a virtual Elevating Entrepreneurs event where finalists will meet with judges, answer questions for the final round of the competition. The public is invited to watch the Elevating Entrepreneurs event at www.heartland.
edu/elevating.

[Steve Fast
Director, Public Information
Heartland Community College]