Bradley Contest Breeds Business
October 7, 2010
Elise Dismer
PEORIA, Il. -- Do you have what it takes to start a company?
Find out.
Project Springboard, a competition that promotes entrepreneurship at Bradley, provides the opportunity for students to launch their own business.
Each year, undergraduates and graduates alike from a variety of majors gather into teams and submit a business plan – a detailed document that states the goals of the business, the strategies planned to achieve them, and the expected profits for such a venture.
After judging, the top three teams win a cash prize to help jumpstart their companies.
The 1st place winner also receives office space in Peoria, consulting, and advice from sponsors about marketing, insurance, legalities, and accounting.
However, the prizes may not be the most important part of the competition according to Project Springboard Director Amy Fairfield Doering.
“The most valuable thing about Project Springboard is the real-life experience that Bradley students get in a co-curricular setting, “ said Fairfield Doering.
The aim of this contest is to present Bradley students with the exposure needed to launch a business in Peoria.
To Jennifer Kendzior, an entrepreneurship major at Bradley and 3rd place winner of Project Springboard in 2009, the best part of the experience was the constructive feedback she received from possible financiers about her business plan presentation.
“As a Bradley student, I’m very grateful Bradley has this opportunity for us to present to potential investors,” Kendzior said. “Not a lot of other schools have this.”
If you are interested in starting up a team for the contest, go to the Speed Networking event on September 24th at 12 p.m. in the Garrett Center.
To learn more, visit http://springboard.bradley.edu/.
