South Mountain Community College’s (SMCC) Community Entrepreneurship Center receives a $4,000 donation from Marisol Federal Credit Union (FCU) to fund student venture pitch competitions (SVPC).
The SVPC provides students the opportunity to take an idea for a new product or business and develop a plan to introduce it to the marketplace or to present new innovations to grow their current business. Participants compete for prize money before a panel of distinguished judges, which include successful investors, entrepreneurs and experienced, entrepreneurial-minded practitioners in the business community.
Each year the SMCC Community Entrepreneurship Center provides students with two opportunities to compete in a venture pitch competition. During the competition, students have three minutes to provide an overview of their businesses, describe their customers, and outline the benefits their business would gain from the prize money. Prizes are awarded for first through fifth place, audience choice, and best business idea with social innovation. MariSol FCU’s donation supports the sustainability and continuation of the venture pitch competition opportunity. SMCC President, Dr. Shari Olson says, “The donation from MariSol FCU exemplifies the importance of partnerships between the business community and higher education. It is through these partnerships that we are able to increase student success, inspire entrepreneurship and contribute to the economic growth in the South Mountain Community”.
MariSol FCU is a community development financial institution that serves modest income people in Maricopa County. “We are committed to financial inclusion and empowerment by expanding access to affordable and equitable financial services for all.” said Robin Romano, CEO of MariSol FCU. “MariSol believes strongly in encouraging entrepreneurs. They are the backbone of the business community and need more support from same community.” MariSol supported a similar program at ASU and already supports the same community of SMCC. “This partnership allows us to spread the commitment of financial empowerment to more of the community”, said Robin Romano.
To learn more information about the SMCC Community Entrepreneurship Center opportunities available to students and businesses, visit www.southmountaincc.edu/cec.
For more information about MariSol Federal Credit Union visit, www.marisolcu.org.
