LAKE HAVASU CITY – Entrepreneurial spirits filled the room last week at ASU’s HavaStartup Award Ceremony. The HavaStartup Award Ceremony took place on Wednesday, April 10 at ASU Lake Havasu. This was HavaStartup’s fifth annual award ceremony organized by ASU. HavaStartup is a business competition that collaborates with Lake Havasu Chamber Foundation for Education Leadership and Better Business Bureau.
The competition is intended for business plans that are commercial with financial returns or for nonprofits wanting to promote social change. The ideas must be original and any field is fair game. Participants must hold a vital position in their business ventures. Eligible entrepreneurs must be Lake Havasu residents with a unique idea to develop a business in Lake Havasu.
The competition focused on applicants that have already been in operation for less than three years, or are setting their sights on opening their business locally right away. Teams can have one to six members. Contestants can disclose all of the plans and models. Business owners also are required to create a plan as to how they will use their winning funds to make their dream business a success.
The ceremony sprang into action with a speech made by ASU Assistant Professor and HavaStartup Event Coordinator Leepsa Madhabika. Other keynote speakers that were present at the event were Mayor Cal Sheehy, Better Business Bureau’s Senior Director of Brand Strategies and Social Impact Kryistyna Hook, CEO of Chamber of Commerce Andrea Helart, and ASU’s Organizational Leadership Professor Dr. Cristen Mann.
One by one, the ceremony showcased three contestants; Mike Walters, Aaron Espinoza, and Jackie Leatherman. Each contestant delivered a 10-minute presentation of their business plan to the audience. The ceremony awarded one winner and one finalist with prize money and gift certificates. Walters was unable to attend, however his presentation for his Prime Life First company was shared with the community by Leepsa.
Prime Life First specializes in dietary supplements and holistic wellness solutions. Walters hopes to improve the well-being of his consumers through education and access to high quality supplements. Espinoza presented his talents by sharing information about Aaron’s Custom Metalworks LLC, a decorative metalworks company. The business offers welding, CNC plasma cutting and fabrication. In his business plan, Espinoza shared desires to collaborate with companies Mohave Pools, ABCO Builders INC, and a few other local businesses where he felt would benefit from his products and services.
Entrepreneur Leatherman shared her business plan for Havasu Hikes LLC, and that will strive in educating the community about the various beautiful trails of Havasu through scheduled hikes and tours. Leatherman holds credentials in first aid wilderness, venomous snake training, and most importantly, safety gear and comfort. Espinoza was announced as the winner of the ceremony with his win of $500, and Leatherman was announced as this year’s HavaStartup finalist and was presented with a $1,000 check.
The mission of HavaStartup is to discover new and established businesses seeking to develop business plans that will help their companies flourish. HavaStartup can help strengthen the economic vitality of Lake Havasu while supporting our local entrepreneurs. Want to learn more about HavaStartup for your business’s goals? Visit havasu.asu.edu to explore the endless possibilities.
Phaedra Veronique