Driving? Rafts? Students? High-profile entrepreneurs? A correlation between these exists? Yes, my friend. Eager students from all over campus gathered round in 251 TNRB to participate in the annual Case Study Competition on October 1, 2004. Founders and donors of the Center for Entrepreneurship put on their game faces and brought out true Cougar pride…in the Marriott School. A competition it was.

Representatives from Rev Enterprises introduced a product—a mileage tracker. The participant’s objective was to develop a marketing scheme to catch the consumer’s eye so that they would want to own this product. Students and entrepreneurs were divided into fifteen groups. The skilled entrepreneurs helped the students in their group plan to market this product. They would have 50 minutes to develop a plan and then were to present it to the other grueling teams who were competing for the prize. Several great solutions emerged and new ideas surfaced. Rev Enterprise’s reps hastily scribbled fresh, ingenious comments and views. When the dust cleared, three out of the original fifteen groups were left…showdown time.

251 TNRB was in an uproar. The three semi-finalists nervously reviewed their notes, hoping to win the grand prize—a full-size, three-person, inflatable raft. Their presentations and ideas stood between them and their relaxing selves floating down Utah Lake. Each student created a fantastic plan to sell these devices. Students and entrepreneur voted for the best plan; one would win. All of the groups were close in votes. The absolutely out-of-control host then announced the winner. “Team three wins!” Four students and three entrepreneurs took home rafts while the runner-ups took home BYU gift certificates.

Overall, the competition was a success and was lots of fun. The students enjoyed the experience to market a product and learned significant business skills. The sportsman-like entrepreneurs enjoyed competing with each other. Until next year!