Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business officially opened its School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship on April 22 amid a sea of student business startups – some at the idea stage and others germinating. already income.
A morning ribbon cutting for SIE marked the start of a school designed to inspire cross-campus entrepreneurial spirits while the program that followed, the New Venture Competition and Exhibitionprovided opportunities for students to not only exhibit business ideas, but also to earn seed money to support them.
“It’s like the Super Bowl for us,” said Dr. Susana Santos, assistant professor of entrepreneurship and associate director of the Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at SIE. “Today’s program is an important way for students to present their ideas.”
The center hosts more than 100 events and programs throughout the year, including a Fall Idea Challenge and the Spring New Venture Competition, through which finalists have the opportunity to win thousands of dollars in funding. A judged art gallery also awarded prizes to the students.
Students from RCB and other Rowan schools and colleges have been developing business concepts throughout the year to showcase during the April 22 program.
Junior management major Nicholas Nastasi said his company, 4Umedicaldesignshas gone well beyond the idea stage and is already generating revenue.
Founded to ease anxiety in young medical patients, the company produces sticker collections with themes such as dinosaurs, dogs and cats, smiley faces and sports equipment to decorate IV bottles, syringes and other therapeutic equipment.
“I never understood why (pediatric) doctor’s offices and hospitals are decorated to be child-friendly, but not the medical devices they use,” said Nastasi, who took 2n/a Place and win $2,500 in the New Venture competition.
Inspired by a childhood medical experience, Nastasi said at least three doctors’ offices and five hospitals currently use the stickers. Equally important, he says, parents say they help their children feel comfortable.
“We hear that what we do is valued and appreciated,” he said.
Day old dog and more
Among the dozens of Expo presenters were Ideas Internship students who envisioned using drones to remove carbon and mitigate climate change; a group whose paper straw technology would detect date rape drugs in bars; and a team inspired by that of Rowan Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program.
Gianna Gussen, a junior marketing major, said her group’s Dog for a Day company, currently in the idea stage, would rent out pets to people who couldn’t keep their own puppies.
Hosting a table laden with bone-shaped pretzels for visitors and judges, with his Bernese mountain dog on a bed next to it, Gussen believes calm, soothing dogs like Leo can have a positive effect on the outlook.
“Just taking a dog out for a day would help reduce stress,” she said.
Award-winning multi-campus program
The Princeton Review this year, RCB’s entrepreneurship program was ranked among the top 50 in the country and the popular “Think like an entrepreneurThe summer academy, which is offered free to high school students, offers three college credits to students who complete it.
Senior Associate Dean Dr. Morris A. Kalliny, professor of marketing, said the open, cross-campus structure of the entrepreneurship program has become a magnet for students from all Rowan colleges, including its two faculties of medicine.
“Entrepreneurship is a discipline that cuts across majors,” Kalliny said. “You don’t need to be a business major, you just need a good business idea. But you also need to know how to promote your idea and that’s what students learn from us, from idea generation to implementation.
Winners of the New Venture competition, exhibition and judged art gallery include:
Rohrer New Venture Competition
First place, Aeriform, $4,000, Douglas Hartmann
Second Place, 4U Medical Designs, $2,500, Nicholas Nastasi
Third place, Art for Hope, $1,000, Ashley Kulikowski
Honorable Mention, Xoaesis, Certificate, Dallas Addis-Hartsough
Honorable Mention, Elemeat, Certificate, Skye Chang
New Venture Expo
Best in Show, PULLAtracker, Prize Pack worth $100, Siena Rampulla
Startup Gallery
First Place, $100 Value Pack, Tyler Allen-Williams
Second place, $75 prize package, Isabella Shainline
Third place, prize package worth $50, Dayna Stauts
