A business idea to offer custom-welded furniture designs won Emporia State’s Entrepreneur Challenge this month.
Aren Trost, an interdisciplinary entrepreneurship major from McPherson, developed the concept for Balance Craft Furniture and Design to meet different needs for homeowners, apartment building owners, hospitality-based businesses like restaurants, bars and hotels and commercial office locations, with offerings like tables, railings, desks, chairs, benches and shelves.
This year’s venture competition saw nearly 60 individuals or teams submit ideas. A panel whittled that list down to 21 semifinalists, based on business model, product or service offerings, originality, project specifics, justification and feasibility. Semifinalists had two weeks to adjust their concepts before the field was whittled down to three finalists.
Trost wins $1,500 for first place. The interdisciplinary entrepreneurship studies team of Lexi Morgan from Argyle, Texas; Kellee Banks of Wichita; and Noah Salazar of Sterling; wins $1,000 for their idea Chip Chocolates. New Strawn marketing major Linnea Mowry gets $500 for her Specta idea offering smart glasses with subtitles for deaf, neurodivergent or non-native residents.
ESU has also announced the winners in the associated Elevator Challenge, who each received $100:
*Best Idea: Sam Bailey (communication major, Cimarron) for her idea Pain Point
*Best Pitch: Chance Liebau (communication major, Chapman) for his idea NIL Agency
*Judge’s Choice: Carlos Sandoval (business administration major, Emporia), Jazmin Gutierrez (business administration major, Emporia) and Stephani Cervantes (business administration major, Emporia) for their idea, Kick Off
