Chad Tjugum, a sophomore in the entrepreneurship program at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics has been awarded a $15,000 fourth place in the Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge e-Fest to fund a business venture called Rarities Market.
Tjugum, along with his co-creator Damian Tobias of St. Francis University, presented the winning business plan at e-Fest under the guidance of Dr. William Dougan, professor of management at Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics.
“Rarities Market stood out to our online judges as a ‘must-see’ team for the 2023 e-Fest Finals,” said Jennifer Gessner, Program Manager, e-Fest and Schulze School Programs. Out of 110 online submissions and nearly 300 students participating from 67 universities, Rarities Market made it to the prestigious Top 25 Finals in Minneapolis, MN. Rarities Market achieved exceptional success at e-Fest, garnering recognition and awards for their outstanding performance.
e-Fest is a business competition that is designed to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit and foster innovation among young students. e-Fest challenges participants to think beyond the ordinary and create creative solutions to real-world problems.
Dr. William Dougan, management professor and faculty advisor for the student CEO group at UW-Whitewater had this to say: “Chad’s impressive performance beat competitors from schools like Dartmouth, Brown, Ohio State, and Auburn. This is the quality of students that we have at the College of Business and Economics—this is why we are Wisconsin’s largest business school. The CEO opportunities at UW-Whitewater, and our rigorous management programs are proven time and again to produce champions like Chad Tjugum. Chad is an impressive leader with a bright future ahead of him. We look forward to following his success well into the future.”
The success of the Rarities Market is not just an accomplishment of the students’ venture; it also reflects on the dedication and expertise of William Dougan and how he has guided and nurtured the team. The success of the team is instilled by the excellent educational environment and opportunities the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater provides for its students.
“Throughout e-Fest, Chad and Damian exhibited an unwavering commitment to their venture, resourcefulness, and a deep understanding of business strategies. They showcased remarkable problem-solving abilities and a strong aptitude for critical thinking, effectively addressing complex challenges with creative solutions. Moreover, their professionalism, resilience, and gratitude for the opportunity were much appreciated by our team,” stated Jennifer Gessner.
