2023 SPRING EVENTS

The 2023 Spring Semester was a huge growing experience for the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab. In total, our entrepreneurs brought in over $231,000 this past school year in funding for their businesses.

March Idea Challenge:

In March, the LaunchLab hosted the March Idea Challenge: Student Organizations– a pitch competition that gives student organizations the opportunity to win funding. The judges’ panel consisted of five business professionals from the

West Virginia area: Tara St. Clair, Dr. T. Anne Hawkins, Carrie Showalter, Sabrina M. Cave, and G. Corey Farris.

There were eight student organizations that participated in the March Idea Challenge: WVU Entrepreneurship Club, Sigma Phi Delta Engineering - Fraternity Beta Xi chapter, Outdoor Adventure Club, Asian Association, WVU Tech Entrepreneurship Club, Collegiate Gaming Club, Climbing Club, and Self Love Club.

Four of the eight student organizations were awarded with funding. WVU Tech Entrepreneurship Club won $2000 in funding to create a cultural lounge. WVU’s Asian Association was granted $1230 in order to produce their events next school year. The WVU Outdoor Adventure Club won $900 for new banners to be used for advertising. The WVU Climbing Club was given $870 to purchase new climbing equipment. The popular vote of $250 was awarded to the WVU Entrepreneurship Club.

Bridging Innovation Week:

From April 17th to the 21st of this year, the state of West Virginia hosted the Bridging Innovation week. During this week, entrepreneurs from the entire state are granted the opportunity to win funding, connect with other entrepreneurs, and learn about the spirit of entrepreneurship. There were many pitch competitions that occured over the week of Bridging Innovation.

On April 18th, during Bridging Innovation Week, the Arts Entrepreneurship and Veterans Entrepreneurship Pitches were held. The LaunchLab had two clients that were prized with funding at the Arts Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition. Adam Payne’s YNST Magazine won $3000 in funding; and Joana Tsuhulares, Hamlet: The Undiscovered Country won $2000 in funding. Additionally, the LaunchLab had five clients that won funding at the Veterans Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition. Dustin Ward’s Light Sleeper won $7000 in funding, Chris Grimes’ Gardening won $7000 in funding, Jamie Summerlin’s PC dev app won $7000 in funding, Bette Angle’s Teachers in Catering won $4500 in funding, and Steve Ellison, Chestnuts won $4500 in funding.

On April 19th– during the Bridging Innovation two business competitions were held: The Innovation & Business Model Competition (Marshall University) and the WV Business Finals Pitch Competition were held. The LaunchLab had two clients win funding at the Innovation and Business Model Competition. Soren Kowalski’s FLWG took second place, winning $2000; and Kieron Leonard’s BedTech won first place, winning $3000. The LaunchLab had seven teams win funding from the Business Plan Competition. BRITE won $40,000 in funding. Eva Toor’s The Stable Boy won $35,000 in funding. Dustin Ward’s The Lite Sleeper won $25,000 in funding. Nikki Forester’s Highland Outdoors won $19,000 in funding. Bobby Noble’s Noble Growing System won $16,000 in funding. Nate Arndt’s Nate’s Handcrafted Nets won $15,000 in funding. And Adam Payne’s YNST won $8000 in funding.

We are extremely proud of all of our clients that participated and won funding during Bridging Innovation Week. The LaunchLab cannot wait to see everyone grow their businesses even more!

April Arts Festival Pitch Competition:

The April Arts Festival was the last pitch competition of the year that was hosted by the LaunchLab. This pitch competition was open to all students, and staff who wanted to win funding for their art. The judges’ panel consisted of five well known artists in the West Virginia area: Elizabeth Yeager, JennaGreen, Liz Pavlovic, Cody Kerns, and Adam James Payne.

There were five artists who participated in the April Arts Pitch Competition: Justin Borak, Koltin Davis, Zachary Morphew, Christian Rhen, and Aiden Rimmer. All five of the artists were awarded funding for their art.

Christian Rhen was awarded with $1750 in funding for his musical production collaboration. Justin Borak was awarded $1500 in funding for his podcast. Zachary Morphew was awarded $850 in funding for his novel. Aiden Rimmer was awarded $500 for art materials. And Koltin Davis was awarded $400 in funding for his short story.

Dr. Carrie White is the Executive Director of the WVU LaunchLab Network. She is also a Teaching Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Chambers College of Business and Economics. Carrie helps provide resources and networking support for students engaged in idea generation and development through the commercialization process. She also develops and coordinates the programming and events hosted by the Morris L. Hayhurst Launchlab.

LL: What is one new leaf that the LaunchLab has sprouted this semester?

C: Probably the Stable Boy with Eva Toor. Although she’s been here as a client for two years, she has really made a ton of progress. Her prototype for the Stable Boy, recently won funding. I think the funding is going to propel her forward really fast.

LL: In what way has this new season of spring inspired the LaunchLab to grow, in your opinion.

C: So we are in the middle of competition season, which is always in the Spring. This is great for growth opportunities, because this is when a lot of funding comes along for our clients. It helps us to realize the first half, their Winter phase, is learning how to pitch. Then really, Spring growth is now I have money, I have to run my business now. So it’s a big area for growth.

LL: Have you had any challenges sowing the seeds of progress in your work with the LaunchLab and its affiliated events or partners?

C: When we first opened the LaunchLab in 2014, it was really slow growing, because nobody knew we were here. So it