Winners of Tarleton’s business plan competition to be announced Friday

STEPHENVILLE (April 18, 2017) — Tarleton State University’s Entrepreneurs of Erath (EoErath) business plan competition wraps up at an awards luncheon this Friday, April 21, when the top three finalists receive cash prizes and a share of professional services—valued at $55,000—to develop their companies.

The luncheon begins at 11 a.m. in the Thompson Student Center Ballrooms on the Stephenville campus. Tickets are $25 each or $200 for a table of eight.

Open to all startup and existing businesses, the EoErath competition is a collaboration of Tarleton’s College of Business, the university’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Stephenville Economic Development Foundation (STEDCO), Stephenville Economic Development Authority, Dublin Economic Development Center and city of Stephenville. Stephenville and Dublin chambers of commerce also support the competition.

Contestants, working since January, presented business concepts to judges last weekend. The biennial competition consists of three rounds: the executive summary, formal business plan and a presentation before contest judges.

“The judges had a tough time deciding the top three winners,” said Tarleton SBDC Director Randy Burch.

The top three 2017 finalists will be selected from Crafted Rustic Elegant Restrooms, Dublin Soap Company, Flight Reach Productions, SlimPicking Outfitters, Southern Belle Toffee Company, Twyford Farms and Von Drogo Kennels.

Winners of the 2015 competition were WHRL Solutions, AJT Compliance and Texas Twisters. Using patented equipment, Dublin-based WHRL recycles lost heat to create free hot water. AJT offers companies a comprehensive transportation information system that gauges compliance with mandated regulations, and Texas Twisters offers coaching and training in cheer, trampoline, tumbling and gymnastics.

Mike Kornegay, owner and operator of several small-business ventures now living in the Cayman Islands, is keynote speaker for Friday’s luncheon, and Janel Harvel of the Texas Governor’s Office will make a special presentation. For luncheon reservations, call Sharon Iley at 254-968-9350.

The next EoErath competition starts in January 2019. For more information on the competition, visit www.eoerath.com. To learn more about Tarleton’s SBDC, go to www.tsusbdc.com.