The Sky's the Limit
A group of Bryant students will launch a “Business 101” idea with $30,000 in seed money they earned in winning a prestigious business plan competition.
It was a moment that might rattle even the most-seasoned veterans. When Morgan Morris ’12 (Sandwich, MA) was making her presentation as part of the Ideas Into Action Business Plan Competition on Friday, the power went out.
But she wasn’t affected, says Management Lecturer Dave Greenan, who taught Morris in “Business 101. She relied on the experience she gained taking Bryant’s innovative “Business 101” course last year as a first-year student, which includes making presentations in front of your peers.
“As the true professional she is, Morgan did not skip a beat in her presentation,” says Greenan. “She made a joke and kept on going.”
This poise and professionalism – not to mention a well-written business plan, helped Morris and her team, PURO, take top honors at the prestigious business plan competition sponsored by Babson College. Presenting for her team, Morris bested two teams from Babson made up of MBA candidates to earn the top prize of $30,000 in seed money to launch the business.
“My first reaction was, is this real?” says Morris. “But as I was walking to the stage, I realized that PURO has dedicated the time and energy we needed to win. We have a great company and I know it will be successful.”
Commitment to success
Greenan concedes that, on the surface, a team of first-semester sophomores defeating a group of MBA candidates might seem like a David vs. Goliath story. But he was not surprised by the result.
“From the beginning, every member of team PURO displayed a total commitment and expended all of their energies to do the very best they could to make this goal a reality, says Greenan. “All it took for David was a ‘solid plan’ and a well-executed ‘rock.’ Well, Morgan and the PURO team had both!”
Morris and her team won’t take much time to relish the taste of victory. The team plans to begin meeting with stakeholders soon. “We hope to get PURO off the ground and up and running very soon,” says Morris.
But she wasn’t affected, says Management Lecturer Dave Greenan, who taught Morris in “Business 101. She relied on the experience she gained taking Bryant’s innovative “Business 101” course last year as a first-year student, which includes making presentations in front of your peers.
“As the true professional she is, Morgan did not skip a beat in her presentation,” says Greenan. “She made a joke and kept on going.”
This poise and professionalism – not to mention a well-written business plan, helped Morris and her team, PURO, take top honors at the prestigious business plan competition sponsored by Babson College. Presenting for her team, Morris bested two teams from Babson made up of MBA candidates to earn the top prize of $30,000 in seed money to launch the business.
“My first reaction was, is this real?” says Morris. “But as I was walking to the stage, I realized that PURO has dedicated the time and energy we needed to win. We have a great company and I know it will be successful.”
Commitment to success
Greenan concedes that, on the surface, a team of first-semester sophomores defeating a group of MBA candidates might seem like a David vs. Goliath story. But he was not surprised by the result.
“From the beginning, every member of team PURO displayed a total commitment and expended all of their energies to do the very best they could to make this goal a reality, says Greenan. “All it took for David was a ‘solid plan’ and a well-executed ‘rock.’ Well, Morgan and the PURO team had both!”
Morris and her team won’t take much time to relish the taste of victory. The team plans to begin meeting with stakeholders soon. “We hope to get PURO off the ground and up and running very soon,” says Morris.
