Isaac Cloran ’22 — Week 2 of the Center for Innovation, Business, and Entrepreneurship’s Business Innovation Program started off with a focus on public speaking and presentation skills. Every innovation consultant presented on a topic he is passionate about. These presentations did not need to be focused on business, yet many were. For example, Andrew Gonczarow presented on the negative effects of Rap music/culture on today’s youth, highlighting the frequent references to drugs, alcohol, or violence that is represented as “cool” or “exciting.” Another consultant, Nieshaal Thambipillay discussed his relationship with Malaysian Street Food, as he grew up in Malaysia. As for myself, I presented on the growing industry of esports, explaining the reasons for growth and the potential that the industry has in the future. Later on, each consultant gave a 1-minute “pitch” as to why he should be chosen as a business partner. Many consultants highlighted their leadership skills, or financial analytical abilities, as reasons they would be effective as business partners. This directly led to our first major project of the Innovation Program: the food truck. Four groups (of six people each) were required to define a business idea for a food truck, formulate a business plan, and present to Roland Morin and Alejandro Reyna as a preliminary round of funding for feedback. Each food truck idea was creative and exciting. My personal favorite, Waffles on Wheels, makes chicken and waffle kebabs, highlighting the portable nature and uniqueness as their main selling points. Other food truck ideas include the Dog House, Easy Cheesy, and Dough House. After the preliminary round of investments, Waffles on Wheels secured $20k in convertible debt, Dough House and Easy Cheesy secured $5k, and the Dog House secured $4k. Each team will present their final pitches on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, to a different group of investors made up of faculty and other alumni. Formulating this idea, describing a business plan, and presenting was very exciting, interesting, and informative. This activity exposed me and the rest of the innovation consultants to the real-world process of entrepreneurship, and while the steps we are following may be very simplified, it has been a good introduction to the world of business.
