Students sharpen entrepreneurial skills at Ignite workshop

Student Experience

Julie Cooper | April 11, 2022

Texas State University students pitched a slew of innovative products, technologies, and services in the sixth annual Ignite event, a three-day workshop that teaches entrepreneurial skills.

Sponsored by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), the March 4-6 workshop was open to all students. More than 80 students applied to participate, and 28 attendees were selected, representing a cross-section of majors from business and engineering to computer science and political science.

Students worked in teams and received guidance from experienced faculty, entrepreneurs, and mentors. On the final day of the workshop, students presented seven business proposals, a one-minute video elevator pitch, held a Q&A with external panelists, and made their final presentations.

Students’ business ideas reflected a range of industries and services, including:

  • Visinfo.com – The visual Wikipedia for research to fight misinformation using automated data visualization. 
  • Imagination Station – A child-focused restaurant, including virtual reality quests for children over 10, an in-dining babysitter, an interactive playground and more.
  • AmeriCAN – A reverse vending machine that incentivizes college students to turn in their recyclable cans to earn points redeemable for coupons from local businesses
  • HealthyPaws! – A mobile app that tracks and analyzes info about pets to give owners info about how to keep their pets healthy; it calculates a pet’s BMI to analyze and give food recommendations

The 2022 Ignite faculty, entrepreneurs and mentors included: Claudia Roschmann, professor, communication design program; Dr. David Cameron, lecturer, Department of Management; Dr. Corey Fox, assistant professor, Department of Management; David Angelo, lecturer, McCoy College of Business Administration; Dan Roy and Dr. Shannon Weigum, co-directors of CIE as well as CIE Entrepreneurs in Residence, Hauke Roschmann, and Jeff Zhao.

For more information, contact University Communications:

Jayme Blaschke, 512-245-2555

Sandy Pantlik, 512-245-2922