Three student entrepreneurs recently made their pitches for start-up businesses to a group of local experts during a local competition similar to the popular TV series “Shark Tank.”
MADC CEO Mike Lauritsen called it successful. “We had a good variety of judges from businessmen to community leaders that asked the entrepreneurs a lot of different questions,” said Lauritsen.
With the goal of earning their choice of space in available shops across the street from the Corn Palace for the summer tourism season.
Wesley Robinson of SoDak BBQ Supply earned the first choice, followed by Natasha Foster of Natasha Lynn Designs and Shaylin Knigge of Shay’s Café.
Lauritsen says while there’s a lot to do before opening their doors, there’s plenty of help available. “Helping to try and price their merchandise, to helping with design of a sign, window clings, and then going through their finances to make sure they have enough money for startup,” he continued. “And that they’re pricing their items so that we hope they’re going to make a profit.”
The Courtyard sees between 250,000–500,000 visitors over the summer, including many tour bus groups.