Latham Bishop Ventures Spring 2026 Program Schedule

January

  • Pitch OWU & Big Problem Challenge Workshop
    • Thursday, January 22nd
    • R.W. Corns Building, Room 312
    • 12 PM to 1 PM - RSVP - Lunch Provided
    • Get ready for OWU's signature pitch competitions! In this workshop, students will learn about both the Big Problem Challenge and Pitch OWU, including how each competition works, key application deadlines, timelines, expectations, and tips for success. Ideal for students who plan to compete or are simply curious about entrepreneurial opportunities on campus. 

February

  • Big Problem Challenge Workshop: How to Approach a Wicked Problem
    • Tuesday, February 3rd
    • R.W. Corns Building, Room 312
    • 12 PM to 1 PM - RSVP - Lunch Provided
    • Network and collaborate with real-life professionals during this free workshop. Learn how to tackle "wicked problems," complex, real-world challenges that lack straightforward solutions; great preparation for students interested in applying to the Big Problem Challenge (BPC) competition, which is set for Feb. 26.
       
      Speakers during this Workshop:
      • Andy Volnick, Executive Director of the Delaware County Transit Agency
      • Logan Brunney, Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Delaware Office of Economic Development
      • Kelsey Fox, President of Delaware County Housing Alliance
      • Nick Potts, local serial entrepreneur
  • Pitch OWU & Big Problem Challenge Competition! — OWU Connection Conference 
    • Thursday, February 26th
    • Pitch OWU - 2 PM - Merrick 301
    • Big Problem Challenge - 3 PM - Merrick 301
    • As part of the OWU Connection Conference, finalists in both the Big Problem Challenge and Pitch OWU will present their ideas to judges and the OWU community. These competitions showcase innovative thinking and entrepreneurial ideas, with opportunities to win prizes and springboard student ventures.
  • Student-Made Panel Discussion — OWU Connection Conference
    • Thursday, February 26th
    • 9 AM - 9:45 AM - Corns 312
    • Join us for a student-led conversation about how having a side hustle can support your personal, academic, and professional goals. Hear firsthand experiences from student entrepreneurs, learn how they balance creative business ventures with academics, and get practical tips for turning your passion projects into real opportunities. The Woltemade Center is partnering with Student-Made, a national student entrepreneurship initiative that provides a platform for student creators to display and sell their products through a professional online marketplace, participate in pop-up shop opportunities, receive individualized marketing and branding support, and join a supportive network of student creators on campus and beyond. Whether you're interested in launching your own small business, selling your creative work, or gaining real-world entrepreneurial experience, you'll learn how the Student-Made program can help you grow your idea, connect with customers, and develop valuable business skills.

April

  • How You Can Benefit from a Side Hustle
    • Tuesday, April 7th
    • R.W. Corns Building, Room 312
    • 12 PM to 1 PM - RSVP - Lunch Provided
    • Explore the value of side hustles in today's student experience. This session will highlight creative ways to build skills, earn income, and connect with campus and community networks through entrepreneurial endeavors, perfect for students interested in Student-Made programs and beyond. 

Latham Bishop Ventures Fall 2025 Program Schedule 

August  

September 

  • Entrepreneurship Beyond the College Walls - R.W. Corns Building, Room 312 - Tuesday, September 9th from 12 PM to 1 PM - RSVP  - Lunch Provided
    • You can learn a lot about entrepreneurship in the classroom. But you cannot learn to become an entrepreneur until you stick your neck out and start doing. The first step in that journey is to engage with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our local area and nationally. In this workshop, you will discover various opportunities to learn about and to pursue entrepreneurship beyond the classroom walls.
  • September 18th - All Day - OWU Connection Conference 
    • 12 PM to 2 PM - Black Wall Street - Hamilton-Williams Campus Center Atrium
      • Guests are invited to learn, network, and shop from local BIPOC-owned businesses and OWU BIPOC student-entrepreneurs promoting their ventures. Black Wall Street is inspired by the legacy of Tulsa, Oklahoma's Greenwood District, known as Black Wall Street. Free food will be provided by Donna's Delicious Dozen and Tricia's Creole Café. This OWU event is in partnership with The Woltemade Center for Economics, Business, and Entrepreneurship; Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at OWU; and OWU Connection. As events are finalized, they will be added to the conference webpage at owu.edu/ConnectionConference.
  • Where Do Startup Ideas Come From? - R.W. Corns Building, Room 312 - Thursday, September 25th from 12 PM to 1 PM - RSVP- Lunch Provided
    • We hear from a lot of students who say they would like to become entrepreneurs but don't know how to start. They don't know where to get ideas for a startup. People like that are sometimes called "wantrepreneurs." They want to do it but are stuck. This workshop will show you how you can find your next breakthrough idea for a startup of your own. It's easier than you may think. You just have to know where to look and when to pivot.

October

  • Mastering Your Pitch - R.W. Corns Building, Room 312 - Thursday, October 16th from 12 PM to 1 PM - RSVP - Lunch Provided
    • Startups succeed or fail on the ability of their founders to clearly and persuasively articulate their business concept to audiences of various types. The vehicle for doing this is called 'the pitch." In this workshop, you will learn—and practice—fundamental concepts that will greatly help you to pitch your idea. We are deliberately holding this event shortly before the entrepreneurship competition (USEC) that will be held in conjunction with the Kickstart Ohio Conference. After this workshop, you will be well-equipped to observe and evaluate other entrepreneurs' pitches, or perhaps to enhance your own pitch in time for the USEC or the OWU Pitch Competition coming in February. 
  • U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition and Kickstart Ohio - Ohio Wesleyan University - October 23 - 25 
    • Kickstart Ohio and the U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition at Ohio Wesleyan University bring together students, professionals, investors, and business leaders to celebrate innovation, share ideas, and turn startup dreams into reality. Participants in the USEC will pitch to experienced judges, gain insights from industry leaders, and connect with Ohio's vibrant entrepreneurial community. Presented by the Delaware Entrepreneurial Center. 
    •  

  • November

    • Hearts of Glass Documentary Screening - Strand Theater - Tuesday, November 11th at 6:30 PM - Free Admission
      • Hearts of Glass follows the tumultuous first 15 months of operation of Vertical Harvest (VH), a multi-story, state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse that grows crops while providing meaningful, competitively-paid jobs for people with disabilities. The film weaves the story of VH's launch with the personal journeys of several employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Innovation and inclusion create a fertile environment for people and plants to grow. VH is a vertical farm on 1/10 of an acre at an elevation of 6,237 feet in Jackson, Wyoming, a mountain town with extreme seasonal fluctuations in weather, population, and demand for goods and services. The employees with disabilities, part of an underestimated, underemployed and vulnerable population, are a vital and visible part of this community-based business. Hearts of Glass is an intimate portrait of social entrepreneurship at the intersection of disability rights and sustainable, local food production.