Shark Tank Competition Challenges Students

The entrepreneurship minor provides students the opportunity to showcase their creativity and aptitude for business with a Shark Tank competition.

The final part of Millersville's 2024 Shark Tank competition was held on Wednesday, April 24 from 7-9 p.m. in the Student Memorial Center. Here, team leader Justin Staggers earned first place along with his team consisting of Jeremiah Hicks, Ronald Bantang, Cayla Bailey-Wolfe and Samuel Ross.

Thirty students prepared and executed a 60-second pitch in hopes of becoming finalists. The competition is tied to The Art of Entrepreneurship course, a core class of the entrepreneurship minor. The initial pitches were given in February when five students were named as finalists:

• Justin Staggers with Eco Tennis Ball
• Brittany Slabaugh with Bonnet
• Elijiah Corn with Bus Tracking App
• Emily Shank with Heated Music Stand
• Alison Koch with Chatter Box

The event is designed to give students the opportunity to come up with an original product or business idea, and then build on it by creating a business plan, financials and marketing strategy. Students who did not place as finalists are put into groups to support each of the winning pitch ideas to do so.

Participating in the event allows students to experience the competitive nature of entrepreneurship. "These types of competitions support students learning about how to create an idea and flesh it out to become a full-fledged business," says Dr. Jennifer Jester, professor and coordinator of the entrepreneurship minor.

Students who wish to participate in the Shark Tank event in the future are encouraged to take the ENTR 201 Art of Entrepreneurship course.

For more information about the entrepreneurship minor, contact Jester at [email protected] or visit https://www.millersville.edu/entrepreneurship/