General

Class gains valuable experience in Business Plan Competition

06 December 2023

In late November, Dr. Bowers’ Introduction to Business class got their chance to gain critical real-world business experience by participating in a Business Plan Competition. The project and competition involved presenting startup ideas, perfecting pitches, and receiving expert feedback. This was the final class project wrapping up the semester.

The Reynolds Introduction to Business class poses with their instructor, Dr. Bowers, and two judges. — The Reynolds Introduction to Business class poses with their instructor, Dr. Bowers, and Judges Tanya Battle and Mike Lewandowski.

Earlier in the semester, the freshman class broke out into four teams who worked together to create a startup idea that they would eventually pitch. Students from each team had a specific task to research. They focused on demographics, logistics, financials, and marketing to arrive at a business plan which they presented before the class and two judges. Each team was given 15 minutes to pitch their plans using PowerPoint Presentations and talking points.

With each student assigned a talking point, they introduced their startup businesses, what their business models were, mission statements, the solutions they offered, their market including competitors, and their financials. The judges and class members listened intently and were given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of each presentation.

Judge Tanya Battle, Instructor Delta Bowers, and Judge Mike Lewandowski smile at the camera. — Pictured left to right: Judge Tanya Battle, Instructor Delta Bowers, and Judge Mike Lewandowski.

The two business-savvy judges, Tanya Battle, senior vice president at C & F Bank and Mike Lewandowski, CPA and University of Richmond adjunct professor, asked each team tough questions which were met with eager answers.

The four teams and their members were:

Action Analysis Corporation (Specializing in accounting firm analysis)
Hannah Meekins
Kristian Vance
Ngoc Duong
Quentin Frame

E.E.P. Homes (Custom Home Construction in Goochland County)
Elias Ghaphery
Eli Messinger
Patricia Price

Green Del (Products and services dedicated to achieving net zero waste)
David Vu
Jessica Dicken
Amadou Diallo
Gabriel Alvarez
Simon Duffy
Cèsar Huertas - Not present

MIC - Management Investment Corporation (Offering stock market advice)
Michael Carr
Isaiah Peyton
Ian Garner
Charles Dozier

The winning team, E.E.P. Homes, poses with Judges Battle and Lewandowski, along with Dr. Bowers — Winning team members, E.E.P. Homes with judges and class professor. Pictured left to right, Eli Messinger, Judge Tanya Battle, Elias Ghaphery, Professor Delta Bowers, Patricia Price, and Judge Mike Lewandowski.

Each team had their strengths but the overall winner, chosen by the judges, was E.E.P. Homes, a custom home construction company, based in Goochland, VA. The judges credited the team’s knowledge, research, and compelling personal stories as to why they stood out from the others. Recognition was also given to Green Del for the branding they used on their slides, and their effective use of props in the pitch.

Beyond the semester-long project of researching and creating a startup plan, presenting before a live audience can be a daunting task. Memorizing scripts, and public speaking is a challenge, but a very necessary task in the business world. A powerful business and life lesson was learned by all.