Students from GCC and HCC got hands-on business development experience working cooperatively with students from seven four-year universities in the Connecticut New Venture Challenge March 1 – 2 at the University of Bridgeport.

The New Venture Challenge is an eight- week, three-credit course providing training in ideation, market validation and competitive positioning. Participants form into interdisciplinary teams to develop the most promising concepts.

Classes were held on Fridays during the day at GCC, with an overnight held at the University of Bridgeport for the Challenge. Students from Fairfield University, Western Connecticut State University, University of Bridgeport and Quinnipiac University were among those participating.

Business Professor and Department Chair Richard Rees accompanied students from HCC and GCC, the only community colleges involved in the event. He noted that they performed well alongside the university students represented, many of whom were graduate students.

The role of the March event was to determine if any students could be ready for an upcoming business plan competition. Rees said his students were ready and some will continue to compete for prize money. If their initial success is any indication, Rees said that the students can move on to a state event on April 26 with prizes in the $5,000 - $10,000 range.

Connecticut New Venture Challenge participants 
include (from left): Brendan Tyma, 
Giovanni Barbano, Chanelle Diaz, Professor Richard Rees, 
Tina Morrison and Jonathan Lopez. 
Student Thomas Sampson is missing from the photo