By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Great business ideas don’t always come from boardrooms or corporate offices.
Sometimes they come from college students who recognize a problem and decide to do something about it.
That entrepreneurial mindset was on full display Wednesday evening at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where 11 students vied for more than $7,000 in cash prizes during the 15th annual Big Idea UNK competition.
Organized by UNK’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development, the event gives Lopers an opportunity to showcase their creativity, receive feedback from business professionals and gain valuable resources to launch or grow their ventures.
This year’s competition drew 52 total entries, with finalists in two categories presenting to a panel of judges and a live audience inside Discovery Hall.
“I think this is one of the most exciting events we have at UNK,” said Brooke Envick, dean of the College of Business and Technology.
A longtime entrepreneur herself, Envick praised the students for their willingness to take risks and pursue their goals.
“You are demonstrating passion and persistence and courage,” she told the finalists. “There’s a large percentage of the population who would never even do what you’re doing tonight and take that risk.”
For UNK seniors Ali Strobel and Tom van den Dungen, that willingness to take a chance is already paying off. She won the “growth track” for those already operating a business and he took first place in the “idea track” for students developing a new concept.
Designing Her Future
Strobel knows a great photograph can capture someone’s attention.
But what happens when a talented photographer’s website doesn’t make the same impression?
That’s the problem the Central City native is solving through Elevated Creative, a website design and branding business that helps photographers and other small-business owners showcase their work and attract more customers.
“Most of them have a great Instagram, but their website is lacking,” Strobel said during her pitch.
A self-taught designer studying business administration with a minor in entrepreneurship, Strobel launched her business about a year ago after recognizing a gap between the quality of photographers’ work and their online presence. She creates customized websites that highlight clients’ portfolios, answer customer questions and make it easier to book their services.
To date, she’s generated about $6,000 in revenue and completed four websites – three for photographers and one for a salon. She also offers branding, social media management and ongoing website updates.
The next step is to make the business more efficient and expand her customer base. Winning $3,000 in the Big Idea competition will help her do exactly that.
“I definitely was surprised but super excited,” Strobel said after the event.
She plans to invest the prize money in a new computer and workstation, advertising and other tools that will allow her to streamline the design process. Her goal is to reduce the time needed to develop a website and expand her reach to photographers beyond Nebraska.
Eventually, she hopes to hire additional designers so she can focus more on managing the business and developing customer relationships.
As the mother of a 2-year-old, entrepreneurship provides the flexibility to build a career around her family while pursuing her creative interests.
“Having something that’s mine that I feel like I can support my family through is super important to me,” she said. “This is a great creative outlet, too.”
Strobel believes the benefits of Big Idea extend beyond her own business.
“Not only are they investing in me, but they’re also allowing me to help other businesses,” she said. “So really their $3,000 investment in the next year could potentially turn into $100,000 in revenue for small businesses.”
A Smarter Way to Save
Van den Dungen’s winning idea started with a familiar problem.
Like many people, he often cooks more food than he can eat in one sitting. The leftovers go into the refrigerator, where they’re sometimes forgotten until it’s too late.
As a member of the UNK men’s tennis team, the Netherlands native understands the challenges of balancing a busy schedule, healthy eating and a college student’s budget.
He also saw an opportunity to create a solution.
His product, FoodPod, uses smart food storage containers connected to a mobile app to help people keep track of leftovers, reduce waste and save money.
Users enter information about the food they’re storing, including ingredients and the date it was prepared. Sensors in the containers work with the app, which provides reminders when food needs to be used and suggests recipes based on what’s available.
“The goal is simple: Make sure you waste less food so more money stays in your pocket,” van den Dungen said.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, food waste costs an average of $728 per person annually, or more than $2,900 for a family of four.
The UNK senior believes FoodPod can help households reduce those costs without investing in expensive smart refrigerators. He envisions selling individual containers for $25 or a three-pack for $65, making the technology accessible to more consumers.
The sport and recreation management major learned about Big Idea UNK when Sara Bennett, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development, visited one of his marketing classes. He decided to enter the competition to test his concept and see whether others shared his enthusiasm.
“The problem that I have, also a lot of other people have,” he said.
The feedback exceeded his expectations. He earned $1,000 for winning the idea track, giving him the resources to begin turning FoodPod into a physical product. His next steps include contacting suppliers, developing a prototype and testing the containers to determine whether the concept is viable.
Although FoodPod is still in the early stages, entrepreneurship isn’t new to van den Dungen. He previously operated a business in the Netherlands reselling rare and limited-edition sneakers to collectors.
“I’ve always been very interested in entrepreneurship and finding opportunities to help people,” he said.
Creating an Entrepreneurial Community
While the cash prizes provide an added incentive, Bennett believes the competition’s greatest value lies in what students gain from the experience.
“Big Idea gives students permission to dream big and imagine what’s possible,” she said.
In addition to Strobel, the growth track winners were Ryan Arbuthnot, who received $1,500 for Arbuthnot Ranch, and Brooke Fricke, who earned $1,000 for Chateau Canine, a coffeehouse and off-leash dog boutique planned for downtown Kearney.
In the idea track, Lenden Worm placed second and received $500 for FrostGuard, a proposed aircraft deicing business serving Kearney Regional Airport. Ethan DeHaven finished third and earned $250 for Bow Barn, an archery business.
Event sponsors were Black Hills Energy, First Interstate Bank, Adam Marshall Land and Auction, Cup of Coa, Ashley Furniture/Hometrends and NUtech Ventures.
Recognizing that successful businesses require more than a strong pitch, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development is extending its support beyond Wednesday’s competition. Through partnerships with SCORR Marketing, Jacobsen Orr and Contryman Associates, the top three finalists in each track will participate in free training sessions covering topics such as marketing, legal and accounting.
The sessions are designed to help students navigate the practical challenges of starting and growing a business while connecting them with professionals who can offer valuable expertise.
That commitment to continued development reflects the larger mission of Big Idea UNK – creating an environment where students have the confidence, resources and support to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.
“It’s all about building the ecosystem,” Bennett said, quoting the event’s creator. “We want to establish a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship on campus.”
