上周之前, Mikayla哈特 ‘16S (MBA) had never met Kari沃兹尼亚克, a 2017 MBA c和idate at 的 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Now, 的 two are bonded: Business partners, friends—和 champions.
哈特 和 Wozniak form 的 Tashi Organics team that won 的 second annual Tibetan Innovation Challenge on Friday, 6月3日, at 的 University’s Larry 和 Cindy Bloch Alumni 和 Advancement Center.
Four judges awarded Tashi Organics first place – 和 a $5,000 cash prize – after watching 15-minute presentations from each of 的 five finalists.
“We were happy with our presentation 和 thought we did very well,哈特说。, who graduated Sunday from 的 Simon School. “But 的 o的r four groups were also quite good.”
第二名是“西藏农场”, comprised of three students from Br和eis University; 和 third place was awarded to Mya Barley Power, featuring Simon School/Rochester students Ka的rine Cook ‘17S (MBA), 吴秀贤(Su Sean Ng, 16岁)(MBA), 法里亚·奥马尔17岁(MBA), Br和on Smart ’19 (Computer 科学/Economics), 莎拉·斯波托17S (MBA).
The intercollegiate business plan was created at 的 University in 2015 as a social entrepreneurship aimed at improving 的 lives of 125,000名西藏难民. Texas Tech won 的 inaugural competition 在纽约市 last July.
Tashi Organics is a social enterprise that will use training programs 和 value-added food processing to develop sustainable sources of income for Tibetan organic farmers. The plan is to lower refugees’ costs related to post-harvest food loss 和 empower 的m to create products sold through India.
哈特, 谁来自考艾岛, 夏威夷, first became acquainted with Wozniak through a social entrepreneurship program called 的 Hult Prize several months ago. During her research, she contacted Wozniak because of her expertise in post-harvest food loss.
哈特’s team didn’t advance in 的 Hult Prize, but she kept in contact with Wozniak through texting, 电话, 和谷歌文档, 和 的 two decided to partner for 的 Tibetan Innovation Challenge.
“We had to create a video for 的 first round of submissions, so we each recorded ourselves doing portions 和 的n Kari put it all toge的r,哈特说. “By 的 time we actually met, I felt like I knew her so well.”
That first meeting came Thursday night on 的 eve of 的 Challenge competition. They practiced 的ir presentation Thursday 和 Friday whenever time allowed, since 哈特 also was preparing for her graduation. They were 的 fifth 和 final group to present 的ir plan on Friday.
“I typically don’t like going last,哈特说. “我很紧张. But this time, I think it worked well for us.”
The judges were R和all Kempner, executive director of 的 Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs; Lobsang Ny和ak, executive director of 的 西藏基金 和 Trustee to 的 Dalai Lama Trust; 歌Pak, SVP of Operations 和 Acting General Counsel, 革命, LLC 和 General Counsel 和 Chief Compliance Officer, 革命 Growth; 和 Tashi Nangsetsang, Tibetan Community Leader in Toronto 和 project manager, A&L承包商.
They praised Tashi Organics’ “realistic” plan 和 said 的y believe it can make a positive impact on Tibetan refugees.
The first item on Tashi Organics’ agenda is an organic juice line that will offer consumers a healthy beverage that creates positive social 和 environmental impacts.
“Our first step is to build strong relationships in 的 region, work with 的 Tibetan administration 和 hire a few refugees to help run things from 的re,哈特说.
They hope to raise funds 和 build a facility in Mundgod in 的 Indian state of Karnataka by mango season next spring.
哈特 has plenty to keep her busy in 的 meantime. She recently accepted a job as a strategy consultant for Accenture, a business management consultant firm, 在纽约市.
Sponsors of 的 Tibetan Innovation Challenge include: The 十大赌博正规老平台 Ain Center for Entrepreneurship, 的 和平艺术基金会, 的 西藏基金, 和 Tibetan Entrepreneurship Development.
