Riata Center for Entrepreneurship’s student incubator to host pitch day

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Oklahoma State University students involved in the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship’s student incubator program will be participating in a “pitch day” at the new incubator location to showcase their business concepts.

There are 17 teams (about 35 undergraduate and graduate students) from across campus in the program. Each group is looking to launch their own unique businesses, from retail stores to high-tech growth and medical devices.

On April 25, they will discuss their businesses and the progress they’ve made since joining the program with judges from the community. Prize money will be awarded to teams in order to help them move forward in establishing their businesses. Small sums of grants and in-kind services from local supporters will provide basic help for the student-run businesses.

Bruce Barringer, head of the School of Entrepreneurship, has high hopes for the event.

“The pitch competition on April 25 will distribute $20,000 to approximately 15 student teams to help the with their business launch,” Barringer said. “We anticipate a spirited and lively event.  The judges will be experienced entrepreneurs, who will not only decide the cash awards but also will be available to the students for mentorship and support. This event will be followed by many more like it as we continue to build a community of entrepreneurial-minded students on the OSU campus.”

The Riata Center’s new Student Start-up Central, located at 1020 N. Boomer Road in The Bank NA building, essentially provides students with office and group work space, mentoring and advising from faculty and entrepreneurs in residence, and organizes speakers that range from entrepreneurs to industry experts who offer one-on-one consulting and group work.  

Rachel Mui, project coordinator, is pleased with the success of the program.

“It’s amazing to see students from different backgrounds from across the campus come together and work on their businesses,” Mui said. “Even though they have unique business ideas, you can still feel the sense of collaboration, which is what we were hoping to achieve with the new space. Engineers get to come together with computer programmers, designers, accountants and they naturally start creating their own professional network with peers.”

The Riata Student Incubator Program at OSU accommodates student businesses at different early start-up stages. From students with early business concepts to companies with products that are ready to launch, the student incubator system provides a support system to students and their entrepreneurial dreams.

Applications to participate in Student Start-up Central for the fall semester are being accepted.

For more information about the facilities and the student program visit http://riata.okstate.edu/studentincubators/ or contact Rachel Mui at 405-744-7552 or rachel.mui@okstate.edu.