The Zingale Big Idea Competition starts on Friday, April 4th, 9:00 am at the Henderson Campus Center. This year, 48 students across 25 teams from six colleges — Allegheny College, Grove City College, Franciscan University, Northwestern University, PennWest University, the University of Chicago and University of Southern California — will compete for $30,000 in prize money.
The competition is hosted annually through The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) at Allegheny College, which prepares the next generation of business innovators and entrepreneurs to succeed in a diverse, global economy. Programming and professional development programs provide year-round experiential learning opportunities.
Chris Allison ’83, Entrepreneur-In-Residence and the CBE Co-Director who oversees the annual competition remarked, “The Zingale Big Idea Competition is meant to teach students how a business operates. Allegheny College is a learn-by-doing institution, so the competition is the perfect marriage of classroom and co-curricular activities. Finally, the only things that are meaningful are those that are difficult. This competition is tough, so I’ll bet our students can carry this grit into their jobs. Plus, it’s fun!”
The Zingale Big Idea Competition focuses on seed-level new business ideas. This contest emulates the experiences seen on the popular CNBC broadcast, Shark Tank, but with a heart. Unlike Shark Tank, the Zingale Big Idea distinguished panel of judges do more than evaluate business models — they offer constructive feedback, coaching and encouragement. Students cite the exposure to the process of competition and to the esteemed judges to be key to their understanding of the entrepreneurial spirit.
Ideas Being Pitched
This year student teams are pitching solutions to everything from an app to prevent drunk texting, a cinder block manufacturer that uses recycled materials, a device to keep baseball players hands warm, to a new take on photography. The student entrepreneurs gain real-world experience to pitch their startups, enhance their business strategy and learn what it takes to launch a successful company.
With a goal of not only competing for cash but also understanding what it takes to secure investment, raise awareness and launch a successful venture, these graduate students will pitch their companies through several rounds and two days of vigorous competition in hopes of taking home the grand prize.
What do Allegheny students learn in the entrepreneurship program?
The Economics of Entrepreneurship is the study of the economic role and principles of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is a combination of many disciplines including law, business theory, history, psychology, political science, economics, and in many instances, just plain intuition.
Topics covered include the development of various business models, the economic impact of antitrust laws, the social and economic implications of “globalization,” the psychology of management. Students are exposed to the disparate requirements of taking an idea (not necessarily their own) and creating an economically viable enterprise that can sustain itself.
Judges
This year’s judges include:
- Sponsor Lance Zingale ’77, Retired Executive VP and General Manager, Sykes Enterprises
- Steve Geimer, Medical Technology Executive
- John Golden, Professor Emeritus, Allegheny College
- Liana Leja ’17, Clinical Research Coordinator, Pales Orthopedic & Spine Institute
- Clayton Morris ’15, VP of Development & Leasing, Sampson Morris Group
- Byron Rich, Assistant Provost of Academic Innovation & Associate Professor, Allegheny College
- Brian Slawin, Director and Portfolio Manager, Ben Franklin Partners
- Lisa Frankovitch, CEO of Growth Companies, Emerging Ventures Champion and Strategic Advisor
Competition Host, Chris Allison ‘83, Entrepreneur in Residence
Chris Allison ’83 serves as the Entrepreneur in Residence and Co-Director of the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics. A member of the Department of Business & Economics faculty since 2007, he continues to serve as a visiting instructor. Since 2009, Allison has served on Allegheny College’s Board of Trustees.
He was one of the founders of Tollgrade Communications, Inc., where he served for nine years as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Tollgrade, a leading provider of centralized test systems for telephone and cable companies, remains active in the industry today.
In addition to his business accomplishments, Allison is the author of several books and articles. His most recent publication is Hit It! A Tech Startup Story and Seven Rules for Entrepreneurs.
