From left: MBA Candidate and CFO of Emivero, Jack Short, Owner of Emivero, Tobi Somori ‘24, and Executive Director of Student and Client Services, Michelle Conway, MBA.
SPARK Business Incubator facilitates experiential learning for student entrepreneurs
Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute places three finalists in the 2024 TecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition including collegiate finalist and Alvernia student entrepreneur Oluwatobiloba (Tobi) Somori ‘24 with her startup technology company Emivero and two high school finalists from Governor Mifflin School District and Wilson School District.
“Having finalists at the tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition for the third year in a row exemplifies Alvernia & O’Pake’s mission to drive economic development while facilitating experiential learning opportunities through our unique student-powered entrepreneurial model,” said Alvernia Vice President of Research Economic Development & Innovation and Chief Operating Officer of the O’Pake Institute, Rodney S. Ridley Sr., Ph.D., RTTP. “All three students were able to strategically formulate and pitch their ideas while Alvernia students in the O’Pake Fellows Program helped them cross the finish line. I am grateful to be able to see these transformations unfold each year.”
College student teams in the region like the Emivero team compete in the collegiate division. In addition, there are high school applicant categories. This is the first year that the O’Pake Institute has mentored high school students in the competition through its Empower Ed Program. Senior in the Governor Mifflin School District Braeden Ruth, placed third in the High School Business Plan Competition with his entrepreneurial venture BR Vending and Senior in the Wilson School District Carter Anderson was a finalist in the Big Idea Essay Competition. There is also a non-collegiate division where startups can participate, which O’Pake Institute SPARK Business Incubator client OCOA Beauty won last year.