It was a feeding frenzy on the campus of Zane State College in Zanesville as 18 businesses competed for $10,000 during the annual Shark Tub event on March 2.
Jennings’ Java, a coffee business created by Muskingum University sophomore, Daniel Jennings, was one of the three finalists of the night, along with Gone to the Dogs and Cashmere & Twig.
By the end of the night, however, Gone to the Dogs was chosen as the winner of the event and received $7,400. Jennings’ Java and Cashmere & Twig each received $1,300 for finishing in the top three.
Jennings said he and his team learned a lot from their experience in the Shark Tub.
“Even though it’s not the result we wanted, we still gained valuable assets from this,” said Jennings. “We had two training sessions so we learned a lot on how to give formal presentations as we just did.”
The event also gave Jennings some good lessons when presenting to an audience.
“Never be intimidated to do things outside of your comfort zone,” said Jennings. “I’m not a public speaker, but you get up there and you can just kind of relax, and if you know your facts, you can never overprepare.”
Jennings said presenting the facts in these types of presentations is one of the most important things for a business.
“You can spend as much time as you want [preparing],” said Jennings, “but you got to know the facts when coming up and making presentations like this.”
In addition to the $1,300, Jennings’ Java received an additional $600 from the panel of judges during the presentation portion of the event. Jennings said the $600 will likely go towards a coffee roaster.
The panel of judges, also known as “sharks,” consisted of some of the biggest names in the Zanesville and Muskingum County area, including Storied Rivals founder, Muskingum alumnus Aaron Spragg, “The Father of Entrepreneurship,” Bill Straker, Karl Saunders, M.D., Zane State College Board of Directors member, Francine Swiger, and American Pride Power Equipment founder Ryan Dodson.
Previous winners of the Shark Tub include Disrupt Media in 2015 and Spragg’s Storied Rivals in 2016.
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- The Zane State College sign in front of College Hall before the Shark Tub event on March 2. The event featured 18 businesses competing for the $10,000 grand prize.
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- Muskingum University sophomores Daniel Jennings (left), Luke Lloyd (middle), and junior Olivia Rhodes (right) of Jennings’ Java prepare before the start of the investment portion of Shark Tub on March 2 at Zane State College. Jennings’ Java was one of 18 businesses that participated in the event.
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- The table cover and logo for Jennings’ Java just before Shark Tub on March 2 in Littick Hall at Zane State College.
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- “Investors” analyze each business during the 2017 Shark Tub event at Zane State College on March 2. Those who attended the event were given $100,000 in play money and used it to vote on their favorite businesses.
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- A miniature globe and coffee beans sued by Jennings’ Java on March 2 to show “investors” how far their Guatemalan beans travel.
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- Muskingum University Sophomore, Luke Lloyd, speaks with potential “investors” on March 2 at Zane State College. Jennings’ Java was one of 18 businesses that competed in the Shark Tub.
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- Jennings’ Java founder and Muskingum Sophomore, Daniel Jennings, speaks with a potential “investor” during Shark Tub on March 2 at Zane State College.
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- Jennings’ Java founder and Muskingum University Sophomore, Daniel Jennings (left), speaks with potential “investors” about where he receives his coffee from in Guatemala. Jennings’ Java finished the night among the final three companies but fell just short of the grand prize.
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- A representative for Innovator Health speaks with potential “investors” during the Shark Tub on March 2 at Zane State College. The company’s idea was to make health care and communication with doctors more accessible.
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- Muskingum President Susan S. Hasseler (left) speaks with a representative of Quimby’s (right). Quimby’s was one of 18 businesses who participated in the Shark Tub event March 2.
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- Muskingum University Sophomores Daniel Jennings and Luke Lloyd of Jennings’ Java speak with potential “investors” during Shark Tub in Littick Hall at Zane State College on March 2.
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- From left to right: Karl Saunders, M.D., American Power Equipment founder Ryan Dodson, “the Father of Entrepreneurship” Bill Straker, Zane State College Board of Directors member Francine Swiger, and Storied Rivals founder Aaron Spragg, make up the panel of “sharks” for the Shark Tub on March 2. The “sharks” later chose Gone to the Dogs as the grand-prize winner of the event.
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- The owners of Cashmere & Twig present their company in front of the sharks in the Campus Center on March 2. Cashmere & Twig received $1,300 for being a finalist during the event.
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- The owners of Gone to the Dogs present their dog grooming and training business to the sharks. Gone to the Dogs was chosen as the winner and received $7,400 for winning the event.
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- Muskingum University Senior, A.J. Kazmierczak (right) talks about the goals and history of Jennings’ Java with sophomore and founder Daniel Jennings (left) on March 2. Jennings’ Java finished in the top three, but fell just short of the grand prize during the Shark Tub event.
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- Muskingum University sophomore and Jennings’ Java founder, Daniel Jennings (left), and senior A.J. Kazmierczak (right) present their brand to the sharks. Jennings’ Java received $1,300 for being a finalist and an additional $600 from the sharks themselves.
