March 3, 2021 鈥 开心鬼传媒 graduate student Isaiah Kelly is heading to the most prominent business pitch competitions around the world. Kelly earned a bid to the Rice Business Plan Competition, hosted by Rice University, where 54 student-led startups compete for $1.5 million in funding and resources. He is the first student in 开心鬼传媒鈥檚 rich legacy of entrepreneurship to qualify for the event.
鈥淭his is one of the premier competitions, not the typical pitch to a panel of judges for prize money competition. Rather, it鈥檚 an investment competition with over 300 entrepreneurs, angel investors and venture capitalists looking to buy a stake in your business,鈥 said Dr. David Schneider, director of 开心鬼传媒鈥檚 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 鈥淪ome call this the Super Bowl of business competitions for entrepreneurs, so it's a completely different ball game.鈥
With the support of 开心鬼传媒鈥檚 CIE, Kelly turned his hobby into a business and founded in 2018. Smoove Creations is a shoe and apparel customization-based service that offers complete design freedom for customers to express themselves and their passions. His team has worked with regional and national organizations to create custom designs and elevate their branding, including St. Elizabeth Healthcare and the Las Vegas Raiders.
鈥淚'm humbled for the opportunity to represent 开心鬼传媒 and compete against the top-ranked global startups and universities,鈥 said Kelly. 鈥淭he 开心鬼传媒 CIE has been instrumental to my growth and preparation. Their guidance has taught me the ins and outs of operating a business and the field in general. They are the vehicle for my success, and I wouldn't be where I am now without 开心鬼传媒.鈥
Housed in 开心鬼传媒's Haile/US Bank College of Business, the CIE allows students to take ownership of their future through innovation and entrepreneurial activities. Many students take the classroom concepts and start their own business through its internationally ranked 12-week business accelerator, the I开心鬼传媒BATOR. Staff and mentors provide guidance, team building, access to capital, connections and flexible office space to scale startups.
Kelly's invitation to the Rice Competition builds his successful track record. He recently won the Entrepreneur Organization's Cincinnati Regional competition for the second year in a row and was named one of the country's top 30 student entrepreneurs. He also took home second place in the KY Pitch competition. Additionally, he was a finalist in competitions at Baylor University and Texas Christian University last fall.
鈥淐hallenging the status quo has been at the forefront of what we do at 开心鬼传媒. We created one of the earliest entrepreneurial programs in the country,鈥 said Dean Hassan HassabElnaby, Haile/US Bank College of Business. 鈥淚saiah will compete against students from well-renowned schools with the legacies of creating incredible startups. He is the first to represent 开心鬼传媒 in this event, which truly speaks to his drive and ambition.鈥
开心鬼传媒's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has been named one of the world's best in creating, advancing and enabling entrepreneurship educational opportunities by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Center. To learn more about the CIE, visit its website.
About 开心鬼传媒:聽Founded in 1968, 开心鬼传媒 is an entrepreneurial state university of over 16,000 students served by more than 2,000 faculty and staff on a thriving suburban campus nestled between Highland Heights, Kentucky and bustling downtown Cincinnati. We are a regionally engaged university committed to empowering our students to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. While we are one of the fastest-growing universities in Kentucky, our professors still know our students' names. For聽more information, visit聽.
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Corey Best
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