For Niagara residents looking to try something new, a couple of Niagara College students might have just the perfect activity. Iris Dip and Eric Ionico won the 2019 ncTakeOff Startup Weekend competition with their idea Cozy Kiln, an interactive pottery bus that visits wineries, retirement homes, and festivals to provide a new activity in Niagara-on-the-Lake, aside from Niagara’s classic wineries.
Hosted by the college’s entrepreneurship hub, ncTakeOff, and sponsored by Meridian Credit Union, the contest was held February 1 to 3 at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus.
The annual competition challenges teams of students from a variety of backgrounds to brainstorm, develop and pitch a business idea, all within 48 hours. This year, students presented to a panel of industry professionals including Vivian Kinnaird, dean of Business, Hospitality, and Environment; Leah Foer, Niagara College professor and founder of Simply Sustainable; and Matt Goch, small business advisor at Meridian.
Inspiration for this year’s wining pitch stemmed from Dip’s history working at a pottery studio. Putting her passion to work at the ncTakeOff Startup competition was a natural step for Dip as she completes the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management program. Ionico is in his second year of the two-year Greenhouse Technician program.
“We always wanted to start our own business but it was always an idea up in the air,” said Dip.
The pair met as lab partners during their undergraduate programs at the University of Guelph and connected over their mutual interest in pottery.
“We knew we wanted a pottery based business but over the weekend, the business model for Cozy Kiln changed a few times from being a storefront to finally, a mobile pottery bus,” said Dip. “It was a more realistic idea.”
Throughout the weekend, teams had access to mentors in various fields to offer direction and advice. Teams also heard from the competition’s keynote speaker Kevin Unger, an NC Sales and Marketing alumnus and owner of Kevin Unger Photography.
“NCTakeOff was a chance for us to put our idea onto paper while getting guidance and direction,” said Dip. “We are very grateful for the experience and the resources that were provided to us.”
Dip and Ionico received a prize of $1,000 cash as well as professional development tools to support their start-up. They will also be automatically advanced to the second stage of the Ignite Pitch Series Competition which will be held on May 8.
“We plan on competing in the next level of the competition,” said Dip. “We are constantly looking for opportunities to learn from mentors and like-minded individuals to build a better business.”
Congratulations to the grand prize winners of this year‘s #StartupWeekend: Cozy Kiln, a mobile pottery workshop, by NC students Eric & Iris. Special thanks to our title sponsor @MeridianCU and judges for contributing to the positive learning experiences of all 7 teams. #ncTakeOff pic.twitter.com/Nqsx4Hsy5u
— ncTakeOff (@ncTakeOff) February 3, 2019
@r_crane on Lean Canvas starting off Saturday morning #ncTakeOff #StartupWeekend pic.twitter.com/rVkpmR7N77
— John Stirstick (@stirstick) February 2, 2019
…and we’re welcoming input from all who want to contribute positively to this awesome #StartupWeekend experience — be it mentors offering feedback, team members conducting market research or… perhaps a furry companion to provide a cuddle break 🐶 pic.twitter.com/zzXafKkPs6
— ncTakeOff (@ncTakeOff) February 3, 2019
