listen to this articleUniversity of Central Oklahoma students Theo Ekogburu, Jazmine Ivery, and JP Jeffries have a goal of eliminating healthcare-associated infections in hospitals. More than 100,000 people died last year from these infections while patients were hospitalized, but an innovative competition has given us the tools to move forward.
Three students led by Ekogbulu have developed a magnetized sprayer that uses magnetic technology to attach disinfectant to any surface.
“Our hope by developing this innovative technology is to reduce the transmission of pathogens and eliminate healthcare infections in hospitals,” Ekogburu said.
The idea was bold and impressed the i2E Entrepreneurs Cup competition judges. The team won first place in the High Growth Undergraduate Division of the University Business Plan Competition, which was announced on April 30th.
“Participating in this competition gave us the opportunity to experience and acquire the skills needed to bring this type of technology to market,” Ekogbulu said. “The win was definitely a surreal moment for us and we are all elated to see our hard work paying off. We will use the prize money to further develop our product and market it to the market. We plan to introduce it to
The Entrepreneur’s Cup Competition provides university students with real-life experience of entrepreneurship and equips them with the skills to see the business world from a completely different perspective. The competition also promotes and supports entrepreneurial activities and the creation of new ventures among university students. Encourage the commercialization of promising ideas emerging from universities. and build bridges between these academic institutions and the entrepreneurial community.
This year’s Entrepreneur’s Cup celebrated 20 years of advancing innovative business ideas and developing the next generation of Oklahoma entrepreneurs.
“I think our biggest impact has been establishing entrepreneurship as a foundational skill for college students,” said Rex Smitherman, president of i2E. “Whether students start their own business or work for a large company, the fundamental skills learned through this competition will be beneficial throughout their careers.”
The top winners of this year’s Entrepreneurs Cup are:
– 1st Place: MagnaZation at the University of Central Oklahoma (Faculty of High Growth)
– 1st Place and Black Oak Award: Nourishing Sparks (High Growth Alumni) from the University of Oklahoma
– 1cent Location: Commissioned by Higashi Chuo University (SME)
– 2n.d. Location: ValuSnap and University of Tulsa (School of High Growth)
The winners of the 90-second pitch contest are:
– Vivian Tapia and Two Cats Bakery, East Central University (Small Business)
– Emily Jeffre and Kardian of the University of Oklahoma (Faculty of High Growth)
– Shannon Robinson (High Growth Graduate Student), EcoNest, University of Oklahoma
The Poulsen Award, sponsored by the Oklahoma Business Roundtable, is a $5,000 scholarship awarded to Oklahoma students to encourage them to participate in the state’s economic development and entrepreneurship.
The Poulsen Award winners are:
– Ahmad Abdullah and Samtrak of Oklahoma State University (High Growth)
– Godsgift Ezedinma and Godsgift Clothing from East Central University (Small Business)
– Jolee Grinstead, Clean Living LLC, East Central University (Small Business)
New this year is the Black Oak Social Entrepreneurship Award, funded by the Moore family. Social entrepreneurship combines business expertise, innovation, and a strong commitment to creating a positive impact on society and the environment, making it possible to make a profit and have a positive impact on society at the same time. has been demonstrated.
The winners of the Black Oak Social Entrepreneurship Award are:
– 1st Place: Nourishing Sparks (High Growth Alumni) from the University of Oklahoma
– 2nd Place: Cardian, University of Oklahoma (Faculty of High Growth)
create success
“What set this year’s winners apart was their innovative approach to solving pressing real-world problems, their execution of business ideas, and their ability to effectively communicate their vision,” Loves Travel said. said Jenny Love Meyer, chief culture officer at Stop. Title sponsor of the Entrepreneurs Cup. “Their passion, creativity and dedication to making the world a better place is evident and we look forward to seeing what they achieve.”
Throughout the Entrepreneur’s Cup competition, teams progress through multiple written business plan reviews and live pitches. This year he saw more than 50 teams participate, a record for the Entrepreneurs Cup.
University of Tulsa students Alec Isett and Coulton Wheeler won second place in the High Growth Undergraduate category for their product ValuSnap. ValuSnap streamlines the resale process by using AI to quickly assess the value of your possessions with just a photo, eliminating the hassle and time investment typically associated with determining value and selling items on various platforms. eliminate.
“Coulton and I have a deep passion for business and entrepreneurship, and our participation in the competition not only demonstrates our strong work ethic, but also allows us to immerse ourselves in learning and networking within the entrepreneurship community. “It provided us with a unique platform and time frame.” Islet.
“For those of us with technical backgrounds, this was our first experience creating a business plan, creating a mock financial report for a company, conducting thorough target market research, and implementing a comprehensive proposal. Love’s Entrepreneur’s The podium position we achieved in Cup surprised us and was very humbling.”
Mr. Islett and Mr. Wheeler decided to reinvest all the winnings from the contest back into their business. They are also looking for accelerator programs to bring their ideas to life.
“We are very fortunate to have great partners at universities across the state. The growth of our team reflects the commitment of these institutions, faculty, and students to the concept of entrepreneurship. ” said Smitherton. “Students are increasingly creative and resourceful, and have the drive and energy to pursue new ideas and innovation. This competition provides them with an outlet for that pursuit.”
building a business
To date, 2,700 students have participated, presented more than 820 business ideas, and won $2.45 million in prize money. The program is presented by Love’s Travel Stops and operated by i2E, a private nonprofit corporation focused on growing Oklahoma’s small businesses and positively impacting the state’s economy.
“When my father started Love’s 60 years ago, he didn’t have much experience in the gasoline industry, but he brought core values of innovative thinking, a strong work ethic, and the perseverance to pursue opportunities. ,” Meyer said. “These key concepts have led him and the company to success. These are the same values we see in the participants of his i2E Entrepreneurs Cup, and the same values we see in his Cup participants. That’s why we chose to partner with you.”
The competition is the first of its kind in Arkansas, a partnership between the Arkansas Capital Corporation (ACC) and the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The Reynolds Foundation, which has roots in Oklahoma and Nevada, asked the ACC to help establish competitions in those three states, with i2E as Oklahoma’s partner.
The 20th Anniversary Dinner was held on April 30th and included a keynote address, networking opportunities, and the much-anticipated awards ceremony where the winners were announced. For those taking home prizes, this contest is just the first step.
“This was more than just a competition. This was the beginning of a future full of success,” Ekogburu said.
For more information, visit entrepreneurcup.org.
