Chuck Cornell (left), director of the Center for Innovation and Economic Development, with students Zachary Dean (Shorewood Commerce); Miles Calloway (Fredonia Makerspace); Noah Meyer (Sonoro Records); and Lassana Sillah (Concrete Made), as well as Lauri Gawronski, CIED project coordinator.
Zachary Dean and his business, Shorewood Commerce, won the 10th SUNY Fredonia Student Business Competition.
Mr. Dean, a senior majoring in adolescent education: social studies, from Fredonia, New York, presented the winning speech for his company in the annual competition sponsored by SUNY’s Center for Innovation and Economic Development (CIED) Fredonia.
Lassana Sillah, a junior music major with a concentration in percussion from East Amherst, New York, and founder of Concrete Made, was the finalist.
Four finalists presented their startups to three judges on December 13. The final pitch competition was well attended and included the Dunkirk School District high school economics class.
The competition is designed to help student entrepreneurs present business ideas, develop proposals, receive advice from experienced business mentors, and launch their businesses. The arguments presented were based on the Business Model Canvas (BMC) which includes a value proposition, customer segments, channels and revenue sources.