Venture Competition Goes to Scouting Startup

Williams (pictured center) is an Ivy Tech Northeast alum and also has a bachelor’s degree from Trine University.

A startup focusing on showcasing high school athletes has won the Ivy Tech Community College Northwest New Venture Competition. Morgan Williams scored $35,000 in capital for his Elite Performance Scouting business.

This was Williams’ second attempt at the competition. His first came in 2013, where he did not make it to the finals. It wasn’t until he accidentally ran into event coordinator Jim Tolbert, who told him "you need to do this again" and Williams decided to return. Upon winning the competition Williams said, "before, I was out there, but I had no idea what was going on. I just had a great idea. (This time) I was prepared. I didn’t just have a good idea. I had material behind it."

As owner of Elite Performance Scouting Morgan, Williams’ goal is to help high school athletes get recruited by college scouts. Williams uses video, social media presence and photography to help get his athletes names out to scouts. Morgan also runs combines for athletes. These combines allow players to develop and enhance their unique skill sets and better themselves to become college athletes. Williams says he believes every athlete deserves their "one shot" and wants to help them achieve their goal.

Over the course of eight weeks, competitors create business plans and three are chosen as finalists. The finalists refine their plans, with help from community mentors, and present them to a panel of college and community judges. Judges the decide on a champion to receive $35,000 to help with business expenses

You can find out more information about Ivy Tech’s entrepreneurship program by clicking here.