On Nov. 13, the Entrepreneurship Department hosted the second annual Big Idea competition. Big Idea Doane is a university-wide business idea competition that has been held at Doane for the past two years. The event invites students to submit their business ideas along with a two-minute pitch video on YouTube. Judges then select the top 10 submissions, whose creators are invited to present their ideas at a live event.
This year, the event was held at the 1206 Venue, offering food and beverages. The finalists included Kyle Schachenmeyer with True Home Now: Coaching and Consulting, sophomore Barnabas Anderson with Corn-Based Plates, junior Curtis Eickhoff with Liquid Knee Brace, junior Nathan Tastad with Diamond Stubz, sophomore Sydney Estill with EasyOrder, senior Drew Kinnaman with Heated Driveway Blanket, senior Lucas Hillard with LiquidSync, senior Alyssa Luebke with Boxes4Peace, freshman Christian Chumba with Real Estate Wholesaling and freshman Allie Stephson with PawPal.
The event consisted of the top 10 contestants presenting their ideas to the judges, each given two minutes to pitch and three minutes for questions. Following these presentations, the judges selected the top five finalists, with the audience casting votes to determine the winners. Taking third place was Luebke with Boxes4Peace, second place went to Anderson with Corn-Based Plates, and the first-place prize of $3,000 was awarded to Tastad for Diamond Stubz.
The Big Idea competition continues to highlight the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Doane University students. By providing a platform for innovative ideas and fostering a supportive environment, the event not only showcases the talent within the university but also inspires others to pursue their own business ventures. With growing participation and enthusiastic support, the Big Idea competition is solidifying its place as a cornerstone of Doane’s entrepreneurial initiatives.
