IDEA FEST, an entrepreneur expo, will be held March 24 at the Overman Student Center and table reservations will be accepted till March 13. Table reservations can be made by contacting organizer Jane Talkington at jtalkington@pittstate.edu or dropping by Kelce 220. There is no cost to be part of IDEA FEST.
“People can expect an event that looks like a trade show but feels like a family reunion as the town joins the campus,” Talkington said. “There will be 50 tables in a show setting of the ballroom and manned by college students with ideas, current business ventures to promote, and pop-up merchandise. Enterprising students will have food for sale such as home baked goods, French desserts, authentic Indian food, and possibly Southeast Kansas famous fried chicken.”
Axelle Rage, a junior majoring in Business Administration and an international student from France, will be bringing culture with desserts.
“For IDEA FEST, I’m cooking and selling French desserts,” Rage said. “I wanted to bring something from my culture and turn it into a small business project.”
The event is meant to be low stakes and bring entrepreneurs into a community.
“The spark for this innovative entrepreneurship event is to create a low stakes event that connects people and builds confidence in the students,” Talkington said. “Creating a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship means showing people that they are not alone. The community of innovators was my doctoral dissertation topic. Hosting the IDEA FEST is a manifestation of how to support these problem solvers with ideas to make the world a better place. The collective genius in the room is palatable. Students encouraging students means a lot.”
Dylan Burr, a freshman majoring in construction management, will be at the event and is hoping to start a landscaping business.
“I am setting up a table in IDEA FEST. I’m selling the idea of fall yard cleanups and landscaping,” Burr said. “It’s important because I’ve been wanting to start some sort of landscaping business here. Now this will be my jump start.”
The event is not about winning or losing, according to Talkington. It is an experience to gain practice, feedback, and ideas.
“IDEA FEST is not a win-lose proposition,” Talkington said. “Every student will gain value from the experience. There are a few scholarships that will be awarded by a panel of floating judges. About 50 people will serve as evaluators who talk to the students one on one in a casual trade show environment. No one is on stage pitching a formal business plan. There is also a public vote that will determine one scholarship winner. we are encouraging students displaying at their table to encourage their friends to attend and vote.”
This action-oriented event is helping students put ideas into reality, according to Rage. It’s doing more than just talking about the ideas.
“I think it’s important, because it pushes students to actually try their ideas instead of just talking about them,” Rage said. “It’s very hands-on and creative.”