Pitch over Pizza, an event hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University’s DeVoe School of Business, allowed students to pitch entrepreneurial ideas in a conversational setting.
Pitch over Pizza, formerly known as “Grand in Sixty” is an opportunity for students to share their potential product, business or entrepreneurial idea with mentors and entrepreneurial experts.
Dr. Jen Bennett, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Endowed Faculty in Business Entrepreneurship, led this event in hopes of helping IWU students develop their entrepreneurial ideas in efforts to move forward in the competition.
The students who presented their pitch will move forward with their entrepreneurial idea and compete on Tuesday, March 26 for a cash prize and a mentorship with Bennett.
Alongside Bennett and various other mentors, Dr. Troy Pavy, Assistant Professor of Marketing at DeVoe, observed the event. Pavy said he was happy to help out Bennett in any way.
“I learned that Dr. Bennett was doing this event and I wanted to learn more about what she was doing,” Pavy said. “It’s a totally new experience for me and I’m coming to observe the event and hear people’s different ideas and aid her in any way that I can.”
Faith Crenshaw, an IWU business student, presented her entrepreneurial business idea, “Faith Can Move Mountains Skill Center.”
“My idea for this skill center would be for youth, where we would teach hands-on skills such as how to cook, how to swim, understand finances and learn different sports such as martial arts and others,” Crenshaw said.
Crenshaw wanted this business idea to be similar to The Boys and Girls Club where kids could decompress yet continue to learn life skills.
The skilled mentors listened to entrepreneurial pitches. One mentor Crenshaw said she met was Ronald Morrell Jr., Marion’s newly elected Mayor.
“I met with the mayor, which was a fun and a cool opportunity for me,” Crenshaw said.
Celeste Kendrick, Crenshaw’s friend and event attendee, said she was happy to be alongside her friend to support her and is excited to learn more about this event.
“I’m excited to learn more about how everything works, learn some stuff and eat some food,” Kendrick said.
