July 8, 2024
Shawnee State University’s Kricker Innovation Hub (KIH) recently wrapped up their annual Ignite Portsmouth Entrepreneurship Bootcamp. The 2024 entrepreneurship training program culminated in a pitch competition on Jun. 26, where thirteen participants pitched their own business ideas in front of a panel of expert judges for a chance to win seed funding and in-kind services totaling $12,000.
Winning first place and $5,000, was Caroline King for her idea of The Nest, a family resource and early childhood resource center. Claiming second place and $3,000, was Dawn Burchett for her idea of Two Cousins: Everything Sourdough and Goods. In third place for $2,000 was Edwin Martell for his idea of the Selfie Museum in Portsmouth. Heather Sherman received the Local Impact Award and $1,000 for her idea of the Art Square, a creative co-working space, while Devon Dixon received the Social Impact Award and $1,000 for his idea of Bair Paws, a non-profit dedicated to therapy dogs and peer-to-peer support for mental health.
”Working with this year's cohort was an absolute pleasure,” said KIH Program Facilitator Josh Lawson. “Spending eight weeks with so many creative, hardworking people feels less like a job and more like a dream. But this program is only one step in their journey. I am confident that the ripple effect of their efforts will expand and impact our community in many powerful ways over the years to come.”
Joining other alumni of the program, the 2024 cohort will continue to receive support through ongoing KIH events and as mentors of the facility’s network of entrepreneurs and innovators.
“My favorite part of the Ignite program is the cohort model,” said KIH Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator Derrick Parker. “I love seeing our cohorts grow with one another during the bootcamp itself. But more than that, they connect with program alumni from years past for mentorship, networking, and collaboration. It is truly great to see our entrepreneurs working together to make Portsmouth and the surrounding region a better place to live.”
KIH’s Ignite Portsmouth is made possible by the support of the ECDI Women’s Business Center of Central Appalachia at SSU, the Appalachian Regional Commission, Economic Development Administration, and sponsors such as Glockner Family of Dealerships, the GRIT Project Ohio, Scioto Law LLC, Imagine Design, the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, and Appalachian Marketing & Media.
“Ignite Portsmouth showcased innovation with heart, from Bair Paws healing touch for veterans and our recovery community to The Nest's commitment to breaking poverty's cycle for struggling families – each pitch was a testament to community care and entrepreneurial spirit,” said KIH Director Amanda Hedrick. “Business can be a force for profound community change and it is an honor to support these efforts through the services we provide at Shawnee State University's Kricker Innovation Hub.”
To learn more about ongoing programs within Shawnee State University’s Kricker Innovation Hub, visit ssuinnovation.com.