Shark Tank gives Butler innovators an avenue to shine
The Butler County Chamber of Commerce took a unique approach to encouraging business initiative this year with the first Butler County Emerging Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition.
The chamber took inspiration for the event from the Youngstown Business Incubator in Youngstown, Ohio, which helps startups and entrepreneurs launch and grow by providing essential resources. The incubator has hosted a Shark Tank competition for several years, and Butler officials hope this event could start to build a case for establishing a business incubator here in the county.
Encouraging entrepreneurship in a challenging economy is no small feat, but the Butler County Chamber created this competition that included months of mentorship and preparation.
It brought together existing business leaders, investors, lenders, educators and community partners to hear from several business representatives looking to pitch their products in hopes of earning grant money or an investor. Perhaps even more importantly for our future, it encouraged student applicants to pitch their ideas in search of scholarships.
Business-focused organizations, such as chambers of commerce, business associations, Main Street Community nonprofits and the like, have a tough row to hoe when it comes to motivating new businesses to open in uncertain economic times. We think this kind of outside of the box idea is definitely the way to approach the task.
This is the kind of event that creates energy around an idea, motivates the people involved, spreads interest to those who hear about it and sparks creativity in those who might choose to participate the next time it’s offered.
It might even go a step further. The networking opportunities offered at and around the event might connect innovative entrepreneurs with the right potential investors. It might trigger a new partnership, establish a connection that didn’t previously exist and start someone down the path to working toward their dreams.
One aspect of business that often gets reduced to an exchange of cash and capital on the actual TV show “Shark Tank,” is the benefit of collaboration that successful self-starters and long-term entrepreneurs depend upon. This kind of event not only encourages that kind of synergy, it actually works to create it.
At this week’s event, pitches were made on behalf of Camp Club Fun, a summer camp for 5 to 12-year-olds; a technology company called Secure-Transmit; a marketing solutions business, JEMxAI; a software platform, Nvexus; and a new hydroponic growing system called the Forge of Creation.
The student pitches included an energy solutions business called Flexible Demand; a dancewear brand called Kind Kare Dancewear; and a video game platform, Game Rogue.
Everyone who pitched their product or company at the event went home with something — either a prize or an investment in their project on some level.
Congratulations to the Butler County Chamber for taking a chance on a new event that could pay off for all of us who live, work and play here.
