High school finalists enter business plan competition

March 11, 2020

Last year DSU introduced a business plan competition to DSU students; this year it has expanded to include a high school category.

This year’s competition is fully funded through sponsorships from organizations like Lake Area Improvement Corporation and Heartland Consumers Power District.

To participate in the business plan competition, entrants were required to complete a business plan, with finalists participating in a pitch competition where they will have 90 seconds to pitch their plan.

The elevator pitch requires participants to share their plan quickly in an understandable, attention catching synopsis, according to Dr. Michael Roach, assistant professor of management and advisor of Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO) Club.

“You take this big grand idea and condense it down to a very brief window of opportunity to effectively communicate,” Roach said.

With a 25% increase in DSU collegiate submissions finalists are still being determined. The college division will compete in a pitch tournament on Friday, March 27, while the 20 high school finalists will visit DSU on Saturday, March 28 for a pitch competition.

“We’re planning an entrepreneurship day on the 28th for the high school students,” Roach said.

Students from the CEO Club will assist with the entrepreneurship day, which will include the pitch competition, a lunch, and campus tours.

High school business finalists are from across South Dakota such as Belle Fourche, Brandon Valley, and Florence.