Entrepreneurial "collisions" are now an emphasis in the academic world, and they create energies and outcomes that are often quite unexpected, according to Julie Shields, director of Millikin University's Center for Entrepreneurship.
In a recent editorial in the Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois, Shields explains that entrepreneurial collisions can be complicated, challenging and energizing all at the same time, but says great value is driven from these unpredictable events.
"In Decatur and at Millikin University, it is individuals who engage in the complexity and drive the value for the community," said Shields.
Shields referenced several examples of entrepreneurial "collisions" in the local community:
- Soozie's Doozies was the winner of the Food Innovation Challenge hosted by National Foodworks Services and Archer Daniels Midland Co. back in August 2016. Millikin students Kristin Lilly, a senior entrepreneurship major from Illiopolis, Ill., Ayu Pummer, a first-year student from Rossatz, Austria, and Chris Verhelst, a first-year student from Heemstede, Netherlands, worked with Millikin faculty member Omaima Hatem to do a market and branding study to define the target customer groups, do a comparative analysis of their frozen dough competitors and, most visibly, a refresh of their packaging and web presence.
- 300 Below Inc., a local business that has a patented cryogenic process to increase the efficacy of many kinds of products, has been working with Dr. Casey Watson, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Millikin, and a variety of students at Millikin through the Institute for Science Entrepreneurship program.
"Decatur will be hosting another Startup Weekend event from Feb. 10-12," said Shields. "The event will be held in the downtown Barnes Citizens Building. The goal is to fill that space with all sorts of entrepreneurial collisions."
Click here to read more in an article from the Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois.