Arachnovation and Navway Records are featured in the West Virginia University Entrepreneurship Center’s EC Update newsletter. The article highlights the West Virginia Statewide Business Plan Competition’s history as well as past winner’s experiences.
The West Virginia Statewide Business Plan Competition began in 2002 in the WVU College of Business and Economics. Its purpose is to encourage students to think like entrepreneurs and to start new businesses in West Virginia. At first, the competition was limited to WVU students; in 2006, it was expanded to contestants from every college and university in West Virginia. The competition offers a $10,000 prize to the winners of two categories, lifestyle and innovation. Beginning in January, the finalists attend a weekend workshop, obtain educational materials, work with business coaches, are given a $1,000 stipend and attend seminars covering components of a business plan.
A few of the great ideas that have come from this competition include Lisa Giuliani, a potter who was a finalist in the 2007 competition. Though she didn’t win the grand prize she was able to sharpen her business skills. Margie Starcher and her brother Will won the technology category for their ergonomic art easel in 2007. Derrick McKee, a singer/songwriter, won the lifestyle category for his business, Navway Records, that discovers and develops new artists. And Andrew White, a guitar craftsman, won the competition in 2005.
Andrew White’s business is already thriving and he is expecting his sales of his guitars to double this year. White believes in encouraging entrepreneurship and has been developing an organization that helps young entrepreneurs access the resources they need start, grow, and maintain their business in West Virginia. The organization is The Young Entrepreneurs Support Network and was officially launched in February.
The full article can be found in the WVU Entrepreneurship Center Update newsletter.
More information on the WVU Entrepreneurship Center website.
Posted by Samantha Haun on October 30, 2008 at 10:13 am in the following categories: Arachnovation, Navway Records, Yes Network
