Muhlenberg college

Innovation Challenge

The Entrepreneurial Studies Program

Launched in the early 1990s by Dr. Paul Frary, the Entrepreneurial Studies program at Muhlenberg was one of the first entrepreneurship programs to be established at a liberal arts college. Today the program maintains its distinction through its unique combination of academics and practicing entrepreneurs. The program also incorporates local entrepreneurs in the surrounding community, and cultivates opportunities for students to learn from those in the midst of building businesses. These relationships offer an immediate context in which students can apply theory, and gain exposure to the local business community in ways that can further their development beyond the walls of Muhlenberg.

The program emphasizes the importance of innovative and critical thinking, of careful planning, and of adaptation and flexibility that together represent the philosophy and technique of entrepreneurship. Through a combination of course instruction, hands-on internships, small business simulations, and independent research, the program strives to equip students with the well-founded confidence to assume the appropriate and calculated risks fundamental to meaningful life and career choices.

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Past Winners

Vitamizer Ice - First Place 2011 Mark Margulies Major(s): Business Administration and Finance

This product has the potential to create a whole new market in the healthy snack/vitamin industry. The product itself is consumed after being frozen. There is a certain process to the way it is made, which eliminates the weakness of the melting process you see with most frozen products. We will be marketing the product towards the health conscious consumer. The idea came about because of my mother, who went through cancer and radiation last summer (and five years ago as well). I noticed that she had a need for such a product when her mouth and throat were sore for a long period of time. We will be incorporating this story into our marketing, so people who are ill can recognize the benefits that this product offers to them.

The product website (currently under construction) is available at www.VitamizerIce.com.

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Vital Training Solutions, LLC - First Place 2010 Robert Goldwein & Chris Brush Major(s): Business Management (Entrepreneurial Studies) & Marketing

Vital Training Solutions, LLC began as a class project in Professor Trish Boyles' Entrepreneurial Studies class at Muhlenberg College. The powerful plan, of providing non-professional athletic programs with previously unfathomed control, simplicity, and utility through an original purpose built site had been rapidly developing. Since winning the 2010 Innovation Challenge, the founders, Robert Goldwein and Chris Brush, continued on to raise angel financing, seed capital, are building a professional board of advisers and expect a soft launch of their service in August.

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