MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – In 2022 over 5 million new businesses were opened in the United States. Northern Michigan University is doing its best to make sure that numbers gets a little higher
The big pitch is a yearly competition where any NMU student can present their business proposal. Contestants give a 5 minute pitch to a panel of judges composed of nmu faculty and local business leaders. The students are competing for a chance to win a $10,000 prize
“It would give me the hope and motivation to go through with it,” said NMU senior Rachel Harvey, who was pitching her business at the event.
The big pitch isn’t the only chance hopeful entrepreneurs have to walk away with some startup money. There’s also the mini pitch, where students are competing for 1 of 4 $500 cash prizes. This year’s competition featured 12 different business ideas in the 2 categories.
The ideas vary widely for those competing. There was everything from a recycled candle business to a coffee shop you can visit with your pets. The students say the money would go a long way to helping their business
“It would help with some of the minor costs like finding a place to rent and some of the supply costs,” remarked Alex Broullier, who was pitching a coffee shop where you can sip your coffee next to cats.
Harvey says her business, an aquatic therapy service for dogs, has been a long time in the making. One of her professors at northern told her the business was to good to not compete for the prize
“She said you have no choice, you have a feasible business plan, and there’s a market for it and I would be the first one there,” Harvey said.
The competition is a one night event with the winners receiving their prize money at the end of the pitches. Some students said they are already working on their business plans for next year.
