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Our  Grand  finale

 May 1st, 2023 - 9:30AM to 1:30PM ET

live from THE LAUNCHBOX!

With great honor, we invite the top teams in our competition to our business plan presentation challenge - hosted at Penn State's Happy Valley LaunchBox. Is your business plan ready?
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123 S Burrowes St. 2nd Floor
State College, PA 16801
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$10,000 Scholarship

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The top team selected in our rounds of judging will receive a $10,000 scholarship (per member - see our FAQ area for details), generously provided by The Pennsylvania College of Technology. Our Shark-Tank-like competitions allow the best student teams from school districts to present their business ideas to a panel of local judges for awesome prizes. 

EXPERTS

A variety of renown business professionals will be in attendance
Samuel R. Ryder​
Vice President
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First National Bank
Alan Dakey
President
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Brighter Financial Futures
Speaker
Coming Soon!
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Coming Soon!
Elizabeth Hay
Jack White Family Director
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Happy Valley LaunchBox
Cindy Zimmerman
Owner
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Farmers Insurance in State College & Educational Services and Consulting
Donna Gavitt​
Business Educator, MEd
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Brighter Financial Futures

Bios

ELizabeth Hay
Elizabeth has more than 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and consulting with small business owners. Her expertise includes business strategy, disaster recovery, scaling and de-risking growth companies, employee management, insurance compliance, accounting and bookkeeping, government contracting, bid and proposal writing, safety management and overall business management.

​Elizabeth has worked with multiple SBIR awards and has training in DCAA contract accounting. Elizabeth has experience with woman owned and veteran owned business certifications, compliance, and bidding under those designations.

Elizabeth is the President of WiNGs, a State College based women entrepreneurs networking group, she teaches yoga in the State College area, and balances her SBDC career, owning a small business, and raising her 6 children with the help of her husband and co-owner of TechKnowServ Corp, Thomas Hay.
Cindy Zimmerman
As a co-owner of Farmers Insurance in State College, she enjoys her career educating people on their insurance needs and requirements. Cindy’s other business, Educational Services and Consulting (ESC) provides the opportunity for individuals to achieve professional goals through specialized education in insurance designations: Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) and Registered Customer Service Representative (RCSR). At the beginning of her career, Cindy spent 12 years at Raytheon as a recruiter, benefits administrator and strategic planner. She later transitioned to becoming the Vice President of a manufacturing company. Cindy’s knowledge in the insurance industry to understand, educate, negotiate and train employees on insurance programs and coverages have led her to team with individuals and companies to meet their insurance and training needs and requirements. As a co-owner of Farmers Insurance in State College , she enjoys her career educating people on their insurance needs and requirements. Cindy’s other business, Educational Services and Consulting (ESC) provides the opportunity for individuals to achieve professional goals through specialized education in insurance designations: Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) and Registered Customer Service Representative (RCSR). At the beginning of her career, Cindy spent 12 years at Raytheon as a recruiter, benefits administrator and strategic planner. She later transitioned to becoming the Vice President of a manufacturing company. Cindy’s knowledge in the insurance industry to understand, educate, negotiate and train employees on insurance programs and coverages have led her to team with individuals and companies to meet their insurance and training needs and requirements.

scoring criteria

Our judges will use a predetermined set of rules outlined in the rubric below to grade each competitor. Click to download.
Download
AGENDA
Welcome
Introductions - 9:30 am

Elizabeth Hay
Director, Happy Valley LaunchBox
Penn State University

Judges' Introductions and Comments
Samuel Ryder, First National Bank
Head Judge

Review of Activities
Christopher Snyder/Carolyn Shirk
Team Dream-Learn-Pitch


High School Presentations
High School – 9:40am
High School – 9:55 am
High School – 10:10 am
High School – 10:25 am
High School – 10:40 am
High School – 10:55 am

Break

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Middle School Presentations
Middle School – 11:15 am
Middle School – 11:30 am
Middle School: 11:45 am
Middle School: 12:00 am

​Judges Time
12:10 pm to 1:10 pm

Welcome to Innovation!
Elizabeth Hay - 12:15 pm
Director, Happy Valley LaunchBox


Entrepreneurial Remarks

Presentation of Awards
Thank You Pennsylvania College of Technology!

Samuel Ryder & ​Judges - Remarks & Announcements

Middle School
4th Place Team & Teacher
3rd Place Team & Teacher
2nd Place Team & Teacher
1st Place Team & Teacher

High School
6th Place Team & Teacher
5th Place Team & Teacher
4th Place Team & Teacher
3rd Place Team & Teacher
2nd Place Team & Teacher
1st Place Team & Teacher

Closing Remarks: Team Dream-Learn-Pitch

We'll meet you where you are.

With undergraduate and graduate campuses within 30 miles of every Pennsylvanian and globally online, Penn State's world-class education is available to meet students where they are.
Campus Locations
* Pricing for our programs is subject to change, and is contingent upon agreements with our entrepreneurship and financial literacy technology partners
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Brighter Financial Futures
849 Tame Deer Drive
​Winfield, PA 17889
Phone - (570) 975-5149
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© 2023 - Brighter Financial Futures
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