Aloera Ostermann (JR, Manhattan, Kan.) and Terry Ens, Tabor College facilities director, won the Central Kansas Entrepreneurship Center Elevator Pitch Competition. The first annual event was held Tuesday, April 10, in the Franz Family Heritage Lobby of the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts.
The contest included cash prizes for winners of each category. Before the live competition, each participant submitted a 60- to 90-second video explaining their idea for a business. The pitch could be for an actual business or mock business if a student or community member wanted to polish their presentation skills.
They presented those pitches before a panel of judges, including Ciara Miller of Network Kansas, Allison Wiens of Emprise Bank, and Brent Barkman of Barkman Honey. All three entities sponsored the event.
Ostermann won the college division, earning $500 with her presentation of turning old T-shirts into keepsake blankets. Ens also won $500, pitching Twisted Coffee, a mobile business for events that infuses coffee drinks with various fudge flavors and offers other food services.
Jada Thomas (FR, Hays, Kan.) and Alia Hirschi (FR, Sandy, Utah) took second, $300, and third place, $200, in the college division, respectively.
“The Elevator Pitch Competition was a wonderful opportunity for our students and community members to pitch their business ideas and to polish their presentation skills in front of a terrific panel of judges,” said President David Janzen, Ph.D. “We look forward to celebrating innovation in further CKEC events, helping encourage and inspire current and future entrepreneurs.”