Business pitches rise to top in CU competition

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Prize money totaling $1,350 and expert feedback from area entrepreneurs will help five new local businesses get started.

Ten teams pitched their ideas in the final round of the C3 Concordia Catalyst Competition Dec. 2 in the Dunklau Center at Concordia University in Seward.

Kellie Rhodes won the competition with her idea for Rhodes Reproductive Consulting, a business that would help farmers and ranchers determine whether a cow could successfully complete a pregnancy, based on ultrasound assessment and hormone testing done at the ranch.

Rhodes received $500 in prize money to help launch her business.

Each individual or team of competitors presented their 90-second business pitch to a panel of judges, then fielded questions about the logistics of the business, their target markets and more.

Judges included Jacob Eckles, regional director of operations for Family Dollar, Jamie Bishop of Bishop Marketing and Kim Boyce, professor of practice at CU and owner and operator of several development and disability services and assisted living centers.

“One of the things we’re looking at is, ‘Is the business meeting a need that is not being met?’” Boyce said.

Students were coached in creating their 90-second business pitches by CU Assistant Professor of Accounting Todd Johnson, Professor of Business Dr. Curt Beck and Assistant Professor of Ag Science Kimberly Clark.

“It's a really good opportunity to witness what these students have put into this and what new businesses are here,” Johnson said. “I love watching these things, and from the first witness of this to where we are now, it was just fabulous work.”

The initial round of competition was held in November and was open to entrepreneurs of all ages across Seward County. Finalists were all Concordia students except one team from Seward High School.

In the spring, Concordia will host a business plan competition where presenters will expand on their 90-second pitch to include more details.

“No matter what happens and where people place, it’s 90 seconds. It’s a completely different story when you start adding financials to it and a marketing plan,” said Jonathon Moberly, dean of the College of Business and Technology.

The C3 competition was founded three years ago by Dr. Dennis Brink, professor of agricultural science at Concordia, Brian Larrington, Nebraska senior sales representative for Boehringer Ingelheim, and Jonathan Jank, CU alumnus and president and CEO of the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership.

Paul and Mary Ann Koehler, for whom the university’s business department is named, also attended to watch the final round of competition.

“Theirs was the single largest gift in the history of Concordia,” Moberly said. “Their endowment has blessed us to do a lot of different things that benefit the students.”

Other winners in this year’s finals included:

Runner-up: Jack Nelson, Nelson Shooting Academy, $350; traveling trainer in firearm safety, speed and accuracy

Third place: Katie Severt, Bar Bar Shop, $250; a certified barber shop inside of a sports bar

Fourth place: Austin Jablonski, Life Skills Summit, $150; a three-day experience for student athletes focusing on basic life skills like nutrition and financial literacy, resume building and incorporating skills learned through athletics into a future career

Fifth place: Drew Covalt, Ryley Hain and Zack Vrbka of Seward High School, CHV Heated Livestock Mats, $100; a heated rubber mat primarily to prevent hypothermia in newborn calves but that could be used for any species

Additional finalists included Concordia students Evan Beran, Gabe Ellis, Ashley Gerczynski, Bria Schulz, Haley Schmitzer and Christina Gronefeld.