The winner of the 2021 Emporia Entrepreneur Challenge has been crowned.
Emporia State University senior accounting major Lauren Diaz came out on top of 37 individuals and teams who entered in this year’s competition with her idea “SnoGo.” The SnoGo is a “heated turf top potty pad” to assist pets with going to the bathroom when there is snow on the ground.
For winning the competition, Diaz receives $2,500 and will now compete in the virtual Kansas Entrepreneur Challenge hosted by Kansas State University on Apr. 28. Diaz will be joined by EEC runner-up Kendra Kratzberg with her new app “Show Up” which allows all caregivers in a foster child’s life to collaborate and communicate a foster child’s needs by tracking behaviors, triggers, and progress while in foster care.
Kratzberg is a senior business administration major at ESU and received $1,500 for coming in second.
Sophomore economics major Kaden Ott came in third place and received $500 for his idea “Turn Tire” which seeks to recycle and repurpose old used tires.
Entrepreneur Challenge Committee Chair Dr. Douglas Smith stated in a news release, “We are blessed that we have students that embrace and embody being adaptive. In this year’s Entrepreneurial Challenge, our students have adapted to our new normal and embraced the opportunities to be innovative with their entrepreneurial plans. And thanks to the generosity of Steve and Bobbi Sauder, we are able to use our new space, Bobbi & Steve Sauder Center for Entrepreneurial Development, to develop and grow the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
This year’s Entrepreneur Challenge began back in January with multiple rounds of competition including the annual elevator challenge which had to go virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. $100 was awarded for the Best Idea, Best Pitch and Judge’s Choice to three students during the challenge.
Best Idea:
Payton Marshall, freshman undecided major, with “Mask-lace,” an adjustable lightweight facemask that can convert into either a fashionable necklace, bracelet, or even a hair tie.
Best Pitch:
Kendra Kratzberg, senior business administration major, with “Show Up.”
Judge’s Choice:
Hana Risley, senior communication major, with “Bake & Take,” a mobile dessert food truck/trailer for the community and special events all around Emporia.
The Emporia Entrepreneur Challenge is a “venture idea competition” which is open to students from both Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College.
