By: Caleb Friddell
Milligan College senior Cara Beth Brackins won the fourth annual business competition “Will This Float?” which took place on Nov. 17.
“She was articulate, poised, and passionate about her proposal,” said President Bill Greer who was a judge for the event. “Frankly, I think she could sell anything to anybody.”
Brackins pitched a business idea to open a new craft store, Brackinberry, where shoppers could buy the exact amount of supplies they needed and build the craft at the store.
Brackins won $1,000 and business coaching.
“I was really surprised. It all happened so fast,” Brackins said. “I am going to put the prize money in savings and use it when I am opening the business.”
Audience members voted for the event in real time using text messaging. Contestants and audience members watched as the votes accumulated on a big screen.
Brackins won from among six finalist.
“Will This Float” was developed four years ago to build up the community by inspiring entrepreneurship projects. Entries are judged on five criteria:
F- Few or no direct competitors (novel idea)
L- Low adoption/switching costs for users
O- On-time (timely entry to market)
A- Addresses unfilled need or want/solves a real problem (useful)
T- Target market is identified and large.
Greer and fellow judges Kacie Flinn and Rayford Johnson gave feedback to each contestant and determined whether the pitch met the criteria. Flinn represented Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions for Baker Donelson Law Firm, and Johnson is a serial entrepreneur and former director of the East Tennessee State University Innovation Lab.
“Will This Float” was held during Global Entrepreneurship Week and received the Excellence in Economic Development for Entrepreneurship Award in 2010 by the International Economic Development Council.
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