Ben Phillips won first place in the New Business Venture Competition sponsored by the NMU College of Business. His proposal, Ben’s Boards, is a paddleboard rental venture. Phillips also won Best Trade Fair Display.

Keefer Edwards earned second place and Best Elevator Pitch for Keef Company, which produces baseball caps made in the USA with organic or recycled fabric. Third place went to Gisele Duehring for Yooperade, a maple syrup-sweetened lemonade.

The top three overall finishers for best business plan received various cash prizes, consulting and technology support. Local businesses providing consultation services or technology support were: 906 Technologies, Inc.; Kendricks, Bordeau, Adamini, Greenlee & Keefe, PC; Grandchamp, McBride, Wallner, Wallner and Prophet, CPA; and QuickTrophy.

All three finalists participating in the finale received business consultation from the College of Business faculty and reimbursement funds up to $200 for business development and materials.

The New Business Venture Competition is designed to encourage entrepreneurial activism and is open to all students regardless of their degree program. It recognizes and rewards those who present detailed plans for designing and creating new business enterprises, drawing on their own ideas and inventions or those of others.