May 6, 2021
The Shawnee State University Kricker Innovation Hub is set to host the first Ignite Portsmouth: Entrepreneurial Journey Bootcamp this summer. The bootcamp will be a blended event that meets virtually once per week over the course of a six-week span starting May 20.
Ignite Portsmouth will give participants the opportunity to learn the skills they need to turn an idea into a viable business. It will teach entrepreneurial skills, match participants with mentors and coaches, and culminate in a business pitch competition with over $5,000 in cash prizes at the end.
“Offering programming like this is really exciting, and the next step in the development of the Kricker Innovation Hub,” says KIH Director David Kilroy. “The Hub is all about fostering the growth of startups and small businesses in our area. What better way to do that than to highlight folks with ideas for new businesses and products, and show that these ideas can become reality! Not to mention an opportunity to offer an incentive as part of the pitch competition thanks to the Tri-State Angel Investment Group.”
The Tri-State Angel Investment Group is the presenting sponsor for this event, providing prizes to incentivize program participants to take the feedback they get as part of the pitch competition to heart, and to continue to work on their idea following the program. The Tri-State Angel Investment Group works with local investors and partner angel groups to advance entrepreneurs in the Southern Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia region. They are led by a group of skilled and experienced business leaders who find, fund, and mentor private companies that demonstrate the potential for sustainable, profitable, and growth capable operations.
“If you have a business idea – or even a very small existing business – I urge you to sign up,” says Program Coordinator Derrick Parker. “The commitment is only two hours each week over six weeks. Make the time. You will be glad you did. Even if you don’t walk away with a cash prize, you’ll still have the knowledge you need to advance your idea.”
Ariana Ulloa-Olavarrieta will facilitate each session of the bootcamp. Ariana is the Executive Business Coach for the LIGHTS Regional Innovation Network, which specializes in product development and business coaching for new and small businesses. With 15 years of experience in running her own business and helping other entrepreneurs, Ariana has a talent for helping good ideas become great businesses.
Participation in the bootcamp is completely free and open to all individuals 18 or older residing in Scioto, Lawrence, Pike, Jackson, and Adams counties in Ohio and Lewis and Greenup counties in Kentucky. Interested participants should apply at ssuinnovation.com/apply-to-portsmouth-ignite.