Spark Bowl Selects Final Contestants for a ‘Shark-Tank’-like Competition in April
The finalists will work with DelVal students to pitch their ideas on April 15.
Delaware Valley University and the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce have selected the finalists who will compete in the second annual Spark Bowl, a “Shark Tank”-style competition. The competition will be held on April 15 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Students will gain real-world experience by serving as business consultants for the finalists who will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.
Winners will walk away with substantial cash prizes to fund their ideas and grow their businesses. The competition will provide much-needed support for the local business community while providing undergraduates with valuable real-world experience.
Spark Bowl is a competition for entrepreneurs, innovative businesses and nonprofit organizations. Teams address social, consumer or business-oriented challenges in and around Bucks County.
“This year, we received a lot of community interest from potential contestants representing a variety of fields and industries,” said Dr. Tanya Casas, dean of the University’s School of Business and Humanities. “The Spark Bowl contestants come from a wide variety of industries including e-sports, animal care, baby care, horticulture technology, and green manufacturing/renewable waste.”
As part of DelVal’s experiential learning program, DelVal student teams will work with final contestants to prepare for the competition under the guidance of DelVal faculty and SBEC advisors.
The judges will be local entrepreneurs who have a high degree of success in the business world reported William Schutt, a judge and event organizer, and Dr. Vail Garvin, CEO of The Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce. Those interested in being a judge should contact Dr. Garvin at the Chamber.
“The Board of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce is very proud to be working again with Delaware Valley University on Spark Bowl to support our greater community,” said Dr. Garvin. “We’re building on the success of last year’s competition. The competition enriches the local business community and gives students the type of real-world experience that DelVal is known for.”
Prizes
Prize money will be awarded to support the growth of the top three teams’ ideas. The top three teams of student business consultants will also be eligible for cash prizes. Last year, the winners walked away with close to $30,000 in prizes. Funds are being raised for monetary prizes this year and the competition organizers hope to offer similar level prizes.
Attend the Competition
The competition will be held on April 15 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The goal is to have a public, community event in the University’s Life Sciences Building auditorium if it is safe to do so by the spring. The University plans to prioritize campus and community safety and adhere to all health guidelines. If a public event is not possible in April, there will be a virtual Spark Bowl. Please check delval.edu/spark for the latest updates.
Become a Sponsor
Are you interested in helping people put their dreams into action? Sponsors will have the opportunity to review applications from local entrepreneurs, existing businesses and nonprofit organizations wishing to impact economic growth and prosperity in Bucks County. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please email sparkbowl@delval.edu or call 215.348.3913. Sponsorship level information and a link to make a gift online to support the event can be found at delval.edu/spark.
About Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce
The Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce builds alliances among its members by uniting business, industry, professionals, artists and non-profit organizations. The Chamber serves as a catalyst that creates a rich business climate and improves the quality of life in the community. The Chamber is devoted to furthering the arts, humanities and welfare of the Central Bucks region. “Our business is to help your business grow!” For more, visit centralbuckschamber.com.
About Delaware Valley University
Delaware Valley University is a private, comprehensive, nonprofit university educating students with a curriculum that emphasizes and requires experiential learning. Located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, the University offers 28 undergraduate majors in life and physical sciences, business, the humanities, and agricultural and environmental sciences; more than seven master’s degrees; and a doctorate in education. DelVal was founded in 1896 and currently educates approximately 1,980 undergraduate students, 450 graduate students and 850 continuing-education students. It is cited by the National Society for Experiential Education as having the country’s top experiential-learning program, by Princeton Review as one of the best colleges in the Northeast, by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10 college where students land internships, and by College Factual as having one of the top 20 animal science programs in the country.