Students Compete in Gryphon's Den

November 22 - Fourth year students in the Marketing and Consumer Studies’ Entrepreneurship course will be putting their pitching skills to the test in the first ever Gryphon’s Den event on Thursday, November 22 at the Library. The MCS*4100 Entrepreneurship course teaches students to think and act like an entrepreneur and begins with the creation of business models (as opposed to business plans) and ends with 12 groups of students pitching a new product or service idea. Like Dragon’s Den, the popular TV show, students will be instructed to make their pitch during the Gryphon’s Den event without the use of a PowerPoint presentation (but they may bring product sketches or prototypes). Course instructor M.J D’Elia, a Learning and Curriculum Support Librarian, believes Gryphon’s Den will be the ultimate test of students’ business savvy and public speaking skills. “The course is ultimately about practicing the entrepreneurial mindset,” said D’Elia, “to simulate the stress and pressure of pitching to investors. We partnered with Co-operative Education and Career Services who have recruited representatives from top-tier organizations to act as the judges. The event provides students with an incredible opportunity to shine in front of potential employers. ” Students will present their three minute pitches to the Gryphon’s who include: • Tom Dowler, Senior Business Analyst, BioEnterprise • Sebastian Brandt, Director of New Business, Pepsico • Joao Donato, Director of New Business , Pepsico • Ben Kelly, Account Director, Marketing Solutions, LinkedIn Canada, U of G Marketing Alum • Kate Galbraith, Senior Marketing Director, Maple Leaf Foods, U of G Marketing Alum • Mathew Moore, Director, Source-to-Pay, RIM Unlike the TV show, students will not be making an offer to the “Gryphons” or negotiating with them; instead, the judges will be asked to score each pitch according to five criteria: desirability of the idea; feasibility of the idea; viability of the idea; clarity of presentation; and overall professionalism. The audience will also have the opportunity to provide feedback via an audience response system (i.e. remote clickers). At the end of the event, the judges will deliberate and award the top three pitches (prizes to be determined). The judges’ scores will be given to the students after the event (and will compose part of their grade on the assignment). Everyone is invited to attend the event which takes place on Thursday, November 22 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Library in the Academic Town Square. For more information, please contact M.J. D’Elia.