Biagio Juliano
For The Clock
bj1033@plymouth.edu

The Panther Pitch is a campus-wide competition that challenges students to create, refine and deliver innovative and entrepreneurial ideas that address social challenges.This year’s Panther Pitch will be held on November 16, 2021, at 6P.M.Open to all currentPSU (Plymouth State University)students, the application deadline tosendpitchesis October 28 (11:59EST).For more information check out:/current-students/get-involved/panther-pitch/

This week’s workshopwasconductedby Professor Kilfoyle. “Keep it simple stupid.” This meetingput a lot of information on the table for us as a student body. Prior participants gavevast knowledgeof what they strivedinversus what failed them in recent presentations.Noah Fiske, President of Enactus,believes that if you focus on just yourfirststartup; things will go smoother for you or your team. Noah explained how speaking on expansion does not go well for you. The issue he faced was focusing on his company’s future while having nohard-corefacts to back his plan. The point made by this veteranpitcher is that whatever you lay out and discuss during your two-minute pitchmust be well studied and backed up by a variety of facts. Know your numbers and analytics!

Anthony Oglesby, class of‘05, earned his degree inBusinessAdministration with a minor inSocialWork.Oglesby has been withthe PantherPitch since the very beginning.He has built his career in the fitnessindustryspending over 17 yearshelping the founder of Planet Fitness in developing,marketing,and managing operations forits health clubs. Anthonyusedthis experience to start two fitness companies of his own.His firstsuccessknownasTap Out Fitness,a franchisecompany,alongsidehiscurrentbusiness ventureAll Out Fitness.Mr. Oglesby serves on PSU President’sCouncilsupplyingleadership to our university and supporting its mission.He alsosits as ajudgefor this competition.

Anthony joined our workshop over zoom. He gave us some helpful tips forthe PantherPitch. His mainwarningisthe slang. Languagethat18–22-year-oldsuse nowadays to get a laughfrom their audienceare made up of words that nobody 30and olderunderstands.“Humor is allowed and is funny while nervous but do not take it too far as you must know your audience.”Anothergrandiose thinghe had to say was that you must be different. His point throughout his mission is that there is no way to beat Planet Fitness; rather take ideas from them. By having what Planet Fitness has,plus aspects they do not,has been what put Anthony on the map. You don’t want to present this pitch and have people wondering“isn’t this already a thing?”

Peter Carl is the Founder and CEOof Case in Point,a private investigation firmoffering premiere services toa variety ofclients.Peters blood boiled for entrepreneurship since he had been enrolled in undergraduate here at PSU.One of my professorsBonnie Bechardhad the privilege of working with Peter when he wrote his first franchise business plan.“You must have passion; you must be excited”,Peter shouted after he introduced himself to give a couple hints for what to bring to the table. Once you come across that project that forces you to give it your all,you then know where your passion is stemming from. If you can’t portray your passion and excitement behind your idea,then why bother? Pete’s lastimportantpiece of advice to us was“try, practice,andgain from this experience as you learn the fun of what life can bring.”

Why nottake partin something that will give youthe experience of a lifetimefor your road ahead?Think about your past experiences, think of issuesyou’re passionate aboutin this world,use your thinking cap,and find somepromising ideas!Connect to your inner entrepreneur-self, it all comes from within.