By AUDREY KAUFMAN
Aspiring entrepreneurs, listen up! You could win $100.
Tacoma Entrepreneurial Network’s (TEN) annual event, “Innovate! Create!” is a challenging competition for entrepreneurs.
While “Innovate! Create!” takes place here on campus at the University of Puget Sound, the event also attracts students from all over Tacoma.
Students from any of Tacoma’s institutions of higher education, (including Evergreen State College, University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and of course, University of Puget Sound) are allowed to participate.
At “Innovate! Create!”, students are given a problem to solve in groups. After doing some team-building activities, they then brainstorm a successful solution and pitch that solution to a panel of judges.
Oh, and all of this must be done under five hours.
The very first “Innovate! Create!” in 2011 hosted six groups with three to four people in each group. They were given the problem of waste management.
Students are allowed, and in fact encouraged, to consult some of Tacoma’s local entrepreneurs for knowledge and guidance.
Over the five hours, they slowly build a presentation for their pitch. Senior and president of Puget Sound’s Entrepreneurial Club, Kevin Staehly, praises the competition as an amazing educational opportunity.
“I participated in Innovate! Create! the year it debuted, my sophomore year, in 2011. I was amazed by the competition: it was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. What I loved about it was that there was no prep work or anything like that. You just had to show up and be willing to work with people. The first year was great, and I learned quite a bit. I brought that back last year for my second try. Last year I got to partner with some students from PLU who brought amazing experiences and input to the group. After our pitch to the judges, we went on to win the competition last year,” Staehly said
And not only perspective entrepreneurs should participate.
“This is an event that I would encourage everyone to participate in. Because we are a liberal arts school, there are things that you learn in the classroom that can be used and applied anywhere. Different students bring different things to the table, and even if one is not involved in or interested in business, they may still have an idea that is worth exploring and developing further. Innovate! Create! puts you in touch with these people.”
In addition to the fun challenge this event presents, participants can also receive prizes for their solution’s level of success, sustainability and innovation.
The first place prize is a $100 gift card of the winner’s choice to each member of the winning group. For the second and third place winner, each member receives a restaurant gift card to X Group Restaurants (this includes Asado, Masa and Engine House No. 9.)
“Innovate! Create!” will take place in the Wheelock Student Center’s Rotunda on Oct. 5 at 10 a.m.
Launched in 2011 by University of Puget Sound professor Lynette Claire, the college branch of the TEN seeks to connect college students in Tacoma with local businesses and community members.
In this way, the TEN hopes to encourage college students to explore and build entrepreneurial careers.
The college network holds 30 to 40 events per year, so if you enjoy “Innovate! Create!” you can check out the calendar on the Tacoma Entrepreneurial website for information on more events.
In the past, TEN has organized Entrepreneur Film Festivals in Puget Sound’s Rausch Auditorium and campus field trips to Gibson’s Frozen Yogurt.
They have also had programs during National and Global Entrepreneurship Weeks, which have included field trips to local businesses and lectures on different types of businesses.
There is absolutely no cost to register or participate, but if you are interested in this event, you should register on the Tacoma Entrepreneurial Network’s website so they know how many participants to expect.
You can also check out University of Puget Sound’s own TEN Club to find out more about events on and off campus.
