By Alec Frongetta

February 25, 2020

Do you have a business idea you are dying to pitch? You’re in luck.

Lina LaMattina is hosting the third annual Business Idea Pitch Competition on April 23rd from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. The competition takes place at the GCC Batavia campus’ Conable Technology Building in room T102. This competition will be judged by local business leaders.

This “Shark Tank” like competition gives anyone an option to pitch a business idea, and it’s not exclusive to just business students. “I want art students, theatre students, communication students, anyone with an idea,” LaMattina said.

She wants students to know that this competition is not inclusive to a certain kind of student and wants anyone to feel comfortable pitching their idea. It gives anyone a chance to get hands-on experience with entrepreneurship. “I want to encourage students outside of business to give this a try,” LaMattina said.

Prizes are awarded to four different people. The most likely to succeed will receive $100; the runner-up to the most likely to succeed will receive $75. Also, the entrepreneur with the most creative pitch will be awarded $100, and the runner-up to the most creative pitch will be awarded $75. This is an incentive to get people out of their comfort zone and pitch their business ideas.

To join this competition and be able to pitch your business idea, contact Dr. Lina LaMattina at lmlamattina@genesee.edu or call at (585) 345-0055 extension 6319 by Friday, March 27th. And to then be eligible to compete, future participants must complete and submit an in-depth summary of their business pitch and attend one of the three free and open to the public business workshops.

The first business pitch competition workshop, titled “Starting a Business Workshop” takes place on March 31 from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in room T121. The second, titled “Writing a Business Plan,” takes place on April 14th from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in room T121. The third workshop, “Developing Your Pitch,” takes place on April 21st from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in room T121.

LaMattina is very excited about the 3rd annual Business Idea Pitch Competition and is really encouraging anyone to come and pitch their idea. LaMattina said, “I have confidence in anyone’s ability to come pitch their business idea and become their own boss.”