By Diana Wright, ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship
The ISU Entrepreneur Club members at the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) Conference in Tampa, Florida, held October 26–28, 2017.
Iowa State students and ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship advisors have been attending the national Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) Conference for the past 20 years. The annual conference attracts over 1,000 student entrepreneurs from around the world. Students hear presentations from seasoned entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, motivational speakers, and have the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurial-minded students.
After this past Saturday, it was another first. ISU student entrepreneurs, Michael Hanstad (Marketing) and Tyler DeVos (formerly MIS) took 1st place in the Global CEO Elevator Pitch Competition for their business, DeadEye BBQ. The competitive 90-second elevator pitch had over 150 submissions, with 60 competitors in Tampa all vying for the $5,000 top prize. In addition to the cash prize, DeadEye received $500 to attend Future Founder’s U.Pitch Competition to compete in Chicago on November 16th.
For DeadEye BBQ, this isn’t the first time they have competed for the top prize. Earlier this fall, Michael decided to pitch last minute at the ISU Innovation Pitch Competition held at the ISU Maintenance Shop. After his 90-seconds, he soon found himself earning 1st place with a free trip to the CEO Conference to represent ISU in the national pitch competition.
Watch Tyler’s full 90-second elevator pitch here!
Special shout out to Andrew Pauley, senior in Marketing for competing in the first-round of the CEO Global Pitch Competition with his business, UConcealIt.
DeadEye BBQ founders, Michael Hanstad (ISU senior in Marketing) and Tyler DeVos take the stage at the 2017 CEO Conference as they’re awarded 1st Place for the Global CEO Elevator Pitch Competition in Tampa, Florida.
Nolan Herlocker, far left on stage, receives Iowa State’s chapter award for 2nd Place in Marketing & Social Media at the CEO Conference in Tampa, Florida.
Sabah Ali presents on ‘How to Become an Amazon Best Selling Author’ at the 2017 CEO Conference in Tampa, Florida.
Sabah Ali, a senior studying both Business Management & Apparel, Merchandising, Design, was one of the youngest presenters at the CEO Conference. After her 40-minute breakout session on ‘How to Become an Amazon Bestselling Author’, she sold out of all her books, and quickly had a line full of students with questions!
Sabah is the author of Enrolling in Confidence, a bestselling book on Amazon. The book is “dedicated to every student who is looking to live a great lifestyle in college, along with finding their main purpose in life.” Sabah share’s her experiences throughout her college career with tips that can be related to any career field. Checkout her book and story here!
After 3 full days in Tampa, ISU student entrepreneurs were welcomed back to special signs and camaraderie at the Des Moines airport on Sunday morning. It also helped to have another BIG win for ISU Football beating #4 Texas Christian University (TCU) during Homecoming weekend!
