Courtesy of the Shawnee News-Star
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SHAWNEE — The ninth annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup includes 48 student teams on 15 campuses across the state.
The competition simulates the real-world process of entrepreneurs creating a business plan and making a pitch for start-up funds from potential investors all while competing for more than $150,000 in cash prizes and $15,000 in scholarships provided by the Oklahoma Business Roundtable.
Two teams from St. Gregory’s University have advanced in the competition.
They include:
EMOP, LLC
Small Business
Team leader: Cristian Merino
Team member: Callie Pacheco
Advisor: Mayda Shorney
Summary: EMOP is creating the EMOP Vehicle Weight, a double-walled, fluid-filled device that weights down the back of a rear-wheeled drive vehicle during hazardous driving conditions such as snow and ice. Placed in the trunk of a car or bed of a truck, the rectangular device is filled with liquid antifreeze, providing safety and traction with the additional weight.
FMS Industries
Small Business
Team leader: Leathern Spitz
Team members: Tim Fernandez, Paul Mikelonis and Hugo Mondragon
Advisor: Mayda Shorney
Summary: FMS Industries is creating a smart phone app that is paired with a silicon bracelet containing an RFID chip or QR code to provide location information of venue visitors, which can be analyzed and used to improve services.
Nearly 50 local business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs determined the written business plans advancing to the oral presentations, which will be held on April 12-13 at the Presbyterian Health Foundation Conference Center in Oklahoma City.
Each of the advancing teams is provided comments from the judges to assist in improving their plan and perfecting their presentations. They will give a true investor presentation and answer challenging questions from a panel of potential investors and business development professionals who will determine the first, second and third place winners in each division.
New to this year’s competition, the Small Business Division offered students the opportunity to write plans around any business concept, provided the approach was innovative and/or unique. Students wrote plans around coffee shop and restaurant concepts, solar powered appliances, traction weights for rear-wheeled vehicles, environmental consulting and more.
Other teams advancing in the in the Small Business Division are t from East Central State University, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Northern Oklahoma College, Oklahoma State University-OKC, Rogers State University and the University of Central Oklahoma.
Managed by i2E, Inc., the Governor’s Cup is underwritten by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, AT&T, the Greater OKC Chamber, OG&E, Oklahoma Business Roundtable, Phillips66, State Regents for Higher Education and many other local partners.
