Spark Bowl, a 'Shark Tank'-Style Competition, to Award Funding to Local Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Finalists will pitch their ideas and compete for monetary prizes on April 15.

Doylestown, PA (04/05/2021) — Spark Bowl, a "Shark-Tank"-like competition, will award thousands of dollars in prizes to area small businesses on April 15. The competition has selected the finalists, who will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges in Delaware Valley University's Life Sciences Building auditorium. The competition will be livestreamed so that the public can watch the businesses make their pitches. Leading up to the competition, teams of DelVal business students have been working as consultants for the businesses and helping them to prepare their pitches. Prizes will be awarded to both the competitors and to top teams of student consultants. The competition is organized by the University's School of Business and Humanities and the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce.

"Spark Bowl provides real-world experience for DelVal business students, who help the finalists prepare for the competition," said Dr. Tanya Casas, dean of the School of Business and Humanities. "The competition also connects our students with the local business community."

Dr. Vail Garvin, president and CEO of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, said the competition helps local businesses grow.

"The Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce is proud to be working with Delaware Valley University to host Spark Bowl for a second year," said Dr. Garvin. "This competition helps our local small businesses and entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas."

This year, Spark Bowl will be able to offer substantial prizes thanks to funding from community sponsors.

"We're grateful for the support of our community sponsors who generously donated to make this event possible," said Bill Schutt, a DelVal trustee and event organizer.

The 2021 lead event sponsors are Michael Araten, of Sterling Ventures; Susan Lonergan, of Fulton Bank; DelVal Trustee Bill Schutt; Dr. Donna Marie De Carolis, of Drexel University; DelVal Trustee Kate Littlefield; and Robert and Pamela Byers. The Bucks County Herald is the official media sponsor of the 2021 Spark Bowl.

The 2021 Prizes for Spark Bowl are:

Business Prizes

Student Consultant Prizes


How to Watch the Competition:
The competition will be livestreamed on Thursday, April 15, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. from DelVal's Life Sciences Building auditorium. There is no cost to watch the livestream. A limited number of guests will attend the filming including sponsors and media. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, media guests who would like to attend the filming are asked to RSVP by contacting annmarie.ely@delval.edu. For more information and, to watch the livestream on April 15, please visit delval.edu/spark.

About Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce
The Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce builds alliances among its members by uniting business, industry, professionals, artists and non-profit organizations. The Chamber serves as a catalyst that creates a rich business climate and improves the quality of life in the community. The Chamber is devoted to furthering the arts, humanities and welfare of the Central Bucks region. "Our business is to help your business grow!" For more, visit centralbuckschamber.com.

About Delaware Valley University
Delaware Valley University is a private, comprehensive, nonprofit university educating students with a curriculum that emphasizes and requires experiential learning. Located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, 25 miles north of Philadelphia, the University offers more than 25 undergraduate majors in life and physical sciences, business, the humanities, and agricultural and environmental sciences; more than seven master's degrees; and a doctorate in education. DelVal was founded in 1896 and currently educates approximately 1,800 undergraduate students, 450 graduate students and 850 continuing-education students. It is cited by the National Society for Experiential Education as having the country's top experiential-learning program, by Princeton Review as one of the best colleges in the Northeast, by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10 college where students land internships, and by College Factual as having one of the top 20 animal science programs in the country. Learn more at delval.edu.

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