Latham Bishop Ventures

The Woltemade Center for Economics, Business, and Entrepreneurship at Ohio Wesleyan University offers the interdisciplinary Carol Latham Bishop Ventures (LBV) program for students seeking to become the next generation of entrepreneurial and business trailblazers.

The Latham Bishop Ventures (LBV) program is an institutional collaboration managed by The Woltemade Center to expand the scope and impact of entrepreneurial education and opportunities at OWU. Building upon the success of the Latham Entrepreneurial Scholars Program (LESP), LBV provides a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem that is accessible to all interested OWU students. The program fosters and grows upon the entrepreneurial culture on campus, attracts and retains entrepreneurially minded students, and creates a community of students passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation.

LBV offers a range of programming and resources to support students at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Through seminars, hands-on workshops, and mentorship, students have the opportunity to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and deepen their understanding of entrepreneurship. LBV provides experiential learning opportunities, allowing students to turn their ideas into business plans, participate in Pitch OWU, and receive mentorship from OWU alumni entrepreneurs. Additionally, LBV offers financial support and individual mentoring to vetted student business plans, enabling them to launch and grow their ventures.

LBV empowers OWU students to embark on a transformative journey of entrepreneurship supported by a rich array of resources and opportunities. It serves as an investment in students, equipping them with the necessary tools, funding, and mentorship to bring their entrepreneurial visions to life. Through LBV, students will explore and develop their ideas, participate in national competitions, and contribute to OWU's thriving entrepreneurial culture. By leveraging faculty expertise, entrepreneurial curriculum, and the distinctive OWU Connection experience, LBV creates an environment where students can unleash their entrepreneurial potential and turn their dreams into tangible achievements.

The Latham Bishop Ventures program was created with a gift of time, talent, and treasure from OWU alumna Carol Latham, Class of 1961. A chemistry major at Ohio Wesleyan, Latham is the retired founder, president, and CEO of Thermagon, Inc., a custom manufacturer of high-performance heat-transfer materials for electronic components. Under her leadership, Thermagon grew to sales of $18 million annually worldwide.

LBV Ecosystem

• Mindset: Provide opportunities for students to learn about entrepreneurship through seminars and hands-on workshops.  

• Knowledge: Provide learning options for students to go deeper in their understanding of entrepreneurship.

• Experience: Opportunities for students to develop ideas into business plans, present those plans in OWU and national competitions, be mentored by OWU alumni entrepreneurs, be immersed in the entrepreneurial culture, and intern with entrepreneurs.

• Launch and Mentorship: Provide financial support and individual mentoring to vetted student business plans.

LBV Program Providers

• The Woltemade Center
• Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at OWU
• OWU Connection 
• Department of Economics and Business 

Latham Bishop Ventures Spring 2025 Program Schedule 

February

• February 4th from 12 PM - 1 PM - R.W. Corns Building, Room 312 - Preparing for the Woltemade Big Problem Challenge and Pitch OWU Workshop. RSVP HERE. Lunch provided.
  • Prepare for the Woltemade Big Problem Challenge and Pitch OWU ($3,000 prize each) with a workshop focused on brainstorming and building a basic business plan. This workshop will explain the goals and guidelines of the competition, and help you understand how to get started. Lunch Provided. 

• February 14th - Application Deadline for Woltemade Big Problem Challenge and
  Pitch OWU. 
• February 27th - OWU Connection Conference 
  • Latham Bishop Ventures Lecture with Glenn Entis '76
  • Environmental and Natural Resource Symposium
  • Woltemade Big Problem Challenge Pitch Competition 
  • Pitch OWU Competition 

March 

• March 4th from 12 PM - 1 PM - R.W. Corns Building, Room 209 - Google Professional Certificate Workshop #1. RSVP HERE. Lunch provided. 
  • Learn about Google Professional Certificates and how they can help you reach your career goals. Participants will have the opportunity to enroll in a Google Professional Certificate Program for free (approximately $200 value), and possibly connect it to academic credit at OWU.

Latham Bishop Ventures Fall 2024 Program Schedule 

August  

• Career Community Fair - HWCC Atrium - August 28 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM 
  • All Career Communities Participating. Meet the Entrepreneurship Career Community!

September 

• Google Professional Certificate Workshop - R.W. Corns Building, Room 312 - September 18th from 12 PM - 1 PM - RSVP HERE
  • Learn about Google Professional Certificates and how they can help you reach your career goals. Participants will have the opportunity to enroll in a Google Professional Certificate Program for free (approximately $200 value), and possibly connect it to academic credit at OWU. 
• September 26th - All Day - OWU Connection Conference 
  • 9 AM - 12 PM - U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition - Hamilton-Williams Campus Center Benes Rooms 

    • The U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition (USEC) at Ohio Wesleyan University is for student and professional entrepreneurs who seek to discover a path forward to make their startup dreams a reality. Those selected to compete in either the student or professional track will present their ideas to a panel of seasoned and experienced judges on September 26, 2024, on the OWU campus. The winners will earn prize packages valued at $100,000, $75,000, and $50,000, respectively. First- through fifth-place winners all will receive investments. Visit Awards to learn more. The competition is organized by the Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at Ohio Wesleyan University, a first-of-its-kind liberal arts business accelerator and the first-of-its-kind city, county, and educational institute partnership. 

      As events are finalized, they will be added to the conference webpage at owu.edu/ConnectionConference
    • 12 PM - 2 PM - Black Wall Street - Hamilton-Williams Campus Center Atrium
      • Come learn, network, and shop from local BIPOC-owned businesses and BIPOC student entrepreneurs and organizations who will promote their businesses during the Fall 2024 OWU Connection Conference. Free food is provided by Donna's Delicious Donuts and Taesty's Southern Style. This 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. Admission is free. Sign up for a table by emailing Destiny Coleman and dlcoleman@owu.edu. As events are finalized, they will be added to the conference webpage at owu.edu/ConnectionConference.
  • 3 PM - 4 PM - Speaker Marius Smit, Founder of Plastic Whale - Benes Rooms
  •  
    • Join impact entrepreneur Marius Smit as he shares his extraordinary journey from a solo dreamer to the founder of Plastic Whale, a thriving social enterprise turning plastic waste into powerful change. Thirteen years ago, Marius set out to build a boat from plastic waste without any prior experience, and today, his vision has inspired thousands, leading to a fleet of sixteen boats made from Amsterdam Canal Plastic, hundreds of corporate customers, and several successful ventures, including skateboards and office furniture made from recycled materials. Marius will captivate you with stories of resilience, innovation, and the power of daring to take action. He will delve into the importance of a clear, stimulating mission and the flexibility to respond to unexpected twists, sharing insights on trust—in your idea, in yourself, and in others. Learn from his personal setbacks and victories, his approach to vulnerability and perseverance, and his belief in innovative business models. Don't miss this chance to be inspired by Marius's unwavering belief in the power of daring to DO!  As events are finalized, they will be added to the conference webpage at owu.edu/ConnectionConference.

    • Learn More about Marius Smit and Plastic Whale - Here 

October

• Women in Entrepreneurship Club Speaker Series with Nathan Minns - Chappelear Drama Center - October 2nd from 12 PM - 1 PM 
• Women in Entrepreneurship Club Speaker Series with Nomiki Petrolla - Chappelear Drama Center - October 16th from 12 PM - 1 PM 

November

• Student Business and Entrepreneurship Panel - R.W. Corns Building, Room 312 - November 12th from 12 PM - 1 PM - RSVP HERE
  • Come hear from current Economics & Business students as they share their conference and travel experiences. Gain insight into how these students have used OWU Connection and Woltemade Center funds and resources to attend and participate in national, regional, and local conferences that have enhanced their skills, allowed them to dive deeper into their field of study, and network and establish connections with peers. Get ideas on how to find conferences that are unique and relevant to your career goals, and find out more about available funding for travel and conference expenses.
  • Lunch will be served. RSVP is required. 

December

• Latham Bishop Ventures Presentation - Corns Business and Entrepreneurial Scholars Theory-to-Practice Grant Study Trip to Catania, Sicily - R.W. Corns Building, Room 312 - December 4th from 12 PM - 1 PM - RSVP HERE

  • Join us as we bring the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of Catania, Sicily, to Ohio Wesleyan! The Corns Business and Entrepreneurial Scholars are about to embark on an unforgettable journey through OWU's Theory-to-Practice Grant program, where we'll dive deep into the world of family-owned businesses, meet with innovative local entrepreneurs, and explore how island economics and agricultural ingenuity shape thriving industries. Through exclusive workshops and one-on-one discussions with Sicilian business leaders, we'll gain actionable insights and strategies that go far beyond the pages of any textbook.

    This unique experience will allow us to apply classroom learning to real-world settings, broaden our perspectives on global business, and inspire new ideas that we'll bring back to share with you. Whether you're passionate about entrepreneurship or simply curious about turning classroom theory into real-world practice, join us after our return to hear how you, too, can transform your education through OWU's incredible Theory-to-Practice Grants!

  • Lunch will be served. RSVP is required. 

Entrepreneurship Course Offerings:

Fall 2023 - BUS 105, 110, & BUS 425

Spring 2023 - BUS 105, 110, & BUS 425

Interested in Mentorship? 

Please see our extensive list of Alumni Partners who are eager to help students and fellow Alumni with their career and professional goals. The individuals below are happy to be contacted for 1:1 conversations, presentation invitations, and other engagements. Please click on their profiles to learn more and to see their contact details. We encourage students, faculty, Alumni, and staff to engage with these Alumni and form valuable OWU Connections. 

Entrepreneurship Alumni Mentors Available 

Each OWU student has the opportunity to experience a life-changing OWU Connection experience. These signature experiences marry curriculum and hands-on activity are what makes OWU unique. LBV provides the opportunity to students to take a passion for entrepreneurship, coupled with faculty and entrepreneurial expertise and curriculum, and make their dreams, a reality. 

For more information, please contact Destiny Coleman at dlcoleman@owu.edu.