The Farrell Center for Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation at the Penn State Smeal College of Business has announced the four student finalist teams and their mentors for the 8th Penn State Idea Pitch Competition, presented by Smeal.
The four concepts making it through the first round and their assigned mentors are as follows:
- Magneto: Derek Six, vice president, ClimeCo Corporation
- Parker: Albert Fiecha, business intelligence architect, Blooomberg
- Lucy’s Fund: Margot DeFrance, founder of MD Consulting
- Orbis Bindings: Brad Falvey, management development trainee, Hajoca
The role of the assigned mentors is to help teams prepare for final round presentations.
This year’s competition was open to all Penn State undergraduate and graduate students at University Park and all commonwealth campuses. Students submitted a brief video communicating their idea and vision and what skills they were looking for in prospective team members.
Students interested in joining a team were also able to get involved by completing a profile and expressing interest in one or more idea submissions. Based on interest, team leaders brought on additional members, ultimately forming teams of two to five members.
The four finalist teams will present their ideas to a panel of judges, consisting of entrepreneurs as well as Smeal faculty and staff at 2 p.m. Nov. 20, in Room 217 of the Business Building. This will be the capstone event for Penn State Global Entrepreneurship Week.
The three teams that place the highest in the competition will win cash prizes: First - $2,000; second- $1,000; and third-$500.
The public is welcome to attend.