SIUE School of Business Announces TheOther40 Competition Winners
TheOther40 business plan competition offers Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students the opportunity to take a business idea through the stages needed to launch a product or service.
The SIUE School of Business hosted its 10th competition in 2020, which concluded in May with an online video pitch. More than $10,000 in cash prizes were awarded to the finalists.
School of Business graduate student Emily Whelan achieved first place and $5,000 with Emily’s Concrete Engraving. Whelan’s company turns old, existing slabs of concrete into works of art with coloring, cutting and sealing techniques.
Taking the $3,000 second place prize was Justin Bozza with Heyo Devs, LLC. The company is a business and event management software firm that emphasizes networking for universities, businesses and non-profits.
Serena Schafer with Crafting for a Cause earned third place and $2,000. Crafting for a Cause is an online store that works with women’s shelters by teaching women how to make and sell simple craft items, such as knitted hats, scarves and blankets.
Other finalists included Grace Noice with DonateMate, Riley Lovett with EmergentB, and Sydney Bina with Performance Practices.
TheOther40 derives its name from data that shows approximately 60% of startups fail within five years. The goal of the program is to find, engage and support the other 40%. The competition is supported in part by an entrepreneurship education initiative gift provided to the SIUE School of Business by the Martinson Foundation.
Photo: (top) Emily Whelan earned first place in TheOther40 business plan competition with Emily’s Concrete Engraving. (bottom) Justin Bozza took second place with Heyo Devs, LLC, and third place went to (side) Serena Schafer with Crafting for a Cause.
