2024 WVGSE | Recapping Demo Day Event
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University and the Lewis College of Business concluded another successful summer hosting WV Governor’s School of Entrepreneurship (WVGSE) with its Demonstration Day pitch event on Saturday, July 20th. Nine teams pitched their entrepreneurial journey to three distinguished panelists.
Utilizing the recently opened Encova Auditorium in the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation, and with approximately 70 guests, 36 participants, and the GSE faculty and staff, well over 110 people watched nine teams presented their journeys. The distinguished evaluation panel consisted of: Toney Stroud (Chief Legal Counsel – Marshall Univ.), Barbie Woods (FASTER WV | Advantage Valley), and Jonathan Hale (Regional Entrepreneur).
Food Deserts included Shyla Hatti, Ragan Martin, Peter Basdekis, and Shay Chester. Food Deserts focused on the problem of food insecurity in WV. Through their public interactions, Food Deserts discovered that customers were most interested in receiving fresh and healthy produce as part of a subscription service. The panelists identified Food Deserts as tackling the Greatest Impact on Population Health.
Sprout Sync included Alison Shelton, Ben Keeney, John Campbell, and Anna Wolverton. Sprout Sync identified the problem of water droughts and the impact on family farms, initially proposing a large-scale irrigation system and program. However, as acknowledged by the panelists, Sprout Synch earned the Best Pivot award by shifting their focus to a manageable garden-type footprint that could be as small as 3 feet by 5 feet.
Fungi Green included Danielle Scantlin, Joseph Van Meter, Sundar Chiranjeevi, and Liam Kruse. Fungi Green identified the problem of plastic waste, proposing to use a specific composting strategy to consume plastic via mushroom growth. For their efforts, the panelists identified Fungi Green as representing the team featuring the Best Future Steps to success.
Distracted Driving included Anna Floyd, Dylan Liang, Hannah Raper, and Claire Salisbury identified visual impairment because light and/or source glare as an obstacle to safe driving. Distracted Driving proposed using an applied surface to combat glare and improve visibility. For their efforts, Distracted Driver was identified by the panelists as the group having the Best Use of Data.
Third Space included Gavin Knotts, Aaliyah Dodrill, Trinity Hardman, and Raighan Hall Carte. Third Space identified the challenge of providing an additional social environment contrasted against home (first space) and work (second space) in WV. Third Space proposed a single venue that integrated multiple entertainment and relaxation spaces as part of the whole. Third Space constructed the scrappiest and most impactful prototype and were recognized by the panelists as having the Best Prototype for immersing someone within their concept.
TourPal included Sid Rathinam, Sayid Jaweed, Liam McClure, and Parker Jenkins. TourPal identified the issue of there being no integrated system or application for trip planning. TourPal proposed an app-based system that organizes a tour that leaves the planning and execution on travel to the app. TourPal had significant input from their pop-up experience at the mall that resulted in the panel identifying TourPal as having the Best Customer Discovery Story.
Valley Link included Emily McClure, Zach Farnsworth, Hawke Maynard, and Daniel Macjuk. Valley Link’s slogan was “connecting valleys, linking lives” signifying the challenge of broadband Internet access for so many West Virginians. Because of this monumental challenge and the mesh-network approach to solving this issue in partnership with other telecommunications or electrical companies, the panelists identified Valley Link as tackling the Most Significant Problem.
Castify included Madeline Snyder, Sam Whitaker, Smit Babariya, and John Wolverton. Castify tackled the issue of the casting system for immobilizing broken bones and/or limbs. Using 3D printer technology and carbon fiber nylon and TPU materials, a new breathable and comfortable material is produced to improve the experience and promote better healing. The panelists determined that Castify was the Most Innovative.
Able included Indigo Bruehwiler, Derrick Bowersox, Mohamed Hasbane, and Charity Ward. Able targeted adaptative clothing for individuals with disabilities that includes better designs for dressing as well as improved fashion designs. Able demonstrated a pant with a long zipper along the outer leg seam for individuals with a prosthetic. Based on their presentation, the panelists determined that Able was the group that best integrated all aspects of the evaluation criteria and were designated the Panelists’ Choice for Most Comprehensive concept.
Based on their evaluations, the panelists also wanted to specially acknowledge Able, Castify, and Fungi Green as top performers and exemplifying the concepts and ideals that GSE embodies.
The Panelists also acknowledged the quality of each group and the clear hard work and effort that was expended to identify, propose, test, decide, and aggregate the relevant information for Demo Day. One panelist was “blown away” by the degree of sophistication of all the groups and was pleased to say that they were as impressed with these students and equivalent to the satisfaction of working with more experienced entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Coalfield Development founder and Marshall University VP of Workforce and Economic Development Brandon Dennison served as 2024 GSE Keynote. Brandon emphasized the three G’s: Gumption, Grit, and Grace. The gumption to accept and tackle the challenges that we face as a society. The grit to push-through the adversity that inevitably arrives. And the grace to accept folks as they are and not too quickly judge individuals on what may be a bad day. Brandon’s overall challenge to the students was to think big and to act bold to push WV forward.
WVGSE is open to West Virginia students in completing 9th, 10th, and 11th grades. Since 2021, the faculty and staff of Marshall’s Lewis College of Business have hosted the WVGSE, helping high school students engage in creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and calculated risk-taking in pursuit of solving difficult problems. Participants identify a problem, propose solutions, build prototypes, and engage potential customers to test assumptions. Marshall University is looking forward to hosting WVGSE again in Summer 2025.
More information about WVGSE 2024 can be found at the website www.marshall.edu/gse or contact Olen York, director of Entrepreneurship Education and dean of the WVGSE, at olen.york@marshall.edu.