Student Entrepreneurs to Pitch Ideas at CobraVenture Showcase

The contest highlights seven students from the CobraVenture student accelerator lab

Aspiring student entrepreneurs from 小猪视频官网College will pitch their ideas before local venture capitalists and startup experts at the sixth annual CobraVenture Pitch Showcase this month, hosted by the college's Entrepreneurial Network.

On Monday, May 19 from 6–8 p.m. in the 小猪视频官网College Student Union, the contest highlights seven students from the CobraVenture student accelerator lab. These students will compete for up to $3,000 in monetary awards to fund their business and earn the 小猪视频官网Student Entrepreneur of the Year title.

The CobraVenture accelerator provides students with an avenue for networking and business mentorship. The program features a collaborative workspace, topics taught by local entrepreneurs, and one-on-one guidance with business mentors. 小猪视频官网Community Education, the college's noncredit arm, helps plan and administer the workshops. The program operates with oversight from an advisory committee comprised of community leaders and 小猪视频官网College faculty and staff, spearheaded by Stephanie Stuart, Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Innovation.

Beginning the 2025 spring semester, this year's CobraVenture cohort includes students from a variety of academic programs who aspire to start their own business while still enrolled at Parkland. A list of the students, their businesses, and program details can be found at .

This year's competition judges include Madeleine Wolske, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation; Marissa Siero, director of innovation initiatives at the University of Illinois Foundation; Julie Weishar, department chair for 小猪视频官网College Fine and Applied Arts; Carter Billingsley, an attorney at Legacy Legal; and Carly McCoy-McKay, executive director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation.

CobraVenture is funded through the 小猪视频官网Foundation Entrepreneurial Founders Program and its annual Entrepreneur of the Year event.

小猪视频官网College thanks the following businesses and individuals for supporting CobraVenture's next generation of entrepreneurs: Busey Bank; Shaw’s Premier Painting, LLC; Subwar, LLC; It’s a Wrap Automotive, LLC; KES Properties LLC; Meyer Capel; Downtown Development Group; University of Illinois Community Credit Union; Daniel Ditchfield and Steve Fiscus, Atlas Agency; Maatuka Al-Heeti Emkes LLC; and Clanin Creative, owner Scott Clanin.