Daniel Morgan, Advertising Manager

The West Liberty University Gary E. West College of Business and the Center for Entrepreneurship are holding 2016’s Entrepreneurs Pitch Contest on April 28 at 6 p.m. at the Moundsville, W.Va. Sleep in & Suites. There is still time to submit project ideas to Dr. Carrie White, with the deadline set as April 22.

Dr. White, the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, is in charge of planning the pitch contest, which is now in its seventh year.

“It’s like a mini ‘Shark Tank,’” White said. “Each participant has five minutes to pitch their new idea, project, or business to a panel of judges. The judges have five minutes for a question and answer session, and then they select a winner. Judges’ votes count for ten points, and audience members’ votes count for one.” White selects the judges based on their background and past experiences in the business community.

The winner of the Entrepreneurs Pitch Contest will receive $2,500 in funding to go towards his or her project creation. Several winners of past competitions have been WLU graduates, according to White. Winners include Lindsay Schooler for Happy Goat Yoga, the Mmm Popcorn company, and Patrick Fisher for Mason Dixon Barbecue Co.

Although they did not win the prize money, past contestants have still went on to fund their businesses, including the Wheeling Brewing Company.

“We’ve received quite a few applications already,” White said. After the April 22 deadline for applications, the final six will be chosen for the competition.

The event is open to anyone in the public. For more information on applying for the Entrepreneurs Pitch Contest, contact Dr. White at [email protected].