Orange Coast College's Pirate's Plank will showcase student entrepreneurship on Thursday, April 4, at 6:45 p.m. in the Robert B. Moore Theatre.
Pirate's Plank is a business pitch competition that encourages OCC students to solve problems and inspires their entrepreneurial spirit. Like ABC's Shark Tank show, OCC students will present their business ideas to a panel of judges, who are three local business leaders and owners. This year's judges include Simple Green's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jeff Hyder, Castel Innovations, LLC / Gate King's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steve Castelblanco, and Ryan Yang, the owner of Tryangle Construction.
The student presenters will pitch their business idea to the panel of judges, who will listen to the presentation and ask questions regarding the product's viability in the marketplace. The judges will also offer advice to improve their solutions and presentations. This year's presenters include OCC students Sydney Anderson, Walter Cheng, Thomas Downes, Suzanne Hoey, Olivia Yamashita, Mahmoud Niroumand, and Asher West.
"Pirate's Plank is a platform for students to explore their innovative side and business acumen, along with honing their skills for real-world success." says business instructor Mark Grooms.
After the seven presentations, the judges will select two winners: "Most Likely to Succeed" and "Most Innovative." Each winner will receive a cash prize of $700. The event is open to the public, and admission is free.
"With Pirate's Plank, OCC is championing the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers," says Grooms.
Visit the Pirate’s Plank website for more information about the event.
