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Competing teams and DelVal student groups will connect and sell products preceding the competition.

DelVal will host Spark Bowl, a "Shark-Tank"- like competition, which will award thousands of dollars in prizes to area small businesses, on November 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. in DelVal's Life Sciences Building. The competing businesses will have fifteen minutes to "pitch" their idea or product to the judges. As part of DelVal's experiential learning program, DelVal students who have served as business consultants for the finalist teams will also be awarded prize money for their efforts. Spark Bowl is hosted by the University and the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce and is possible because of sponsorships from Bucks County businesses and individuals.

Competing teams and student groups will have the opportunity to connect and sell products at the Spark Bowl Reception and Vendor Fair which will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Life Sciences Building Atrium. The competition will start at 6 p.m. and will end at 8 p.m. Prize money for the start-up teams are as follows:

Prize money for start-up teams:

First place – $12,000

Second place – $6,000

Third place – $3,000

Prize money for student teams:

First place - $3,000

Second place – $2,000

Third place – $1,000

This year’s five competing businesses have been selected and represent the following industries: animal nutrition, education, prosthetics and mobility aids, job training for individuals with varying abilities, and public safety.

In recent Spark Bowl news, Dr. Tia Lyles-Williams, founder of Lucas Pye-Bio and Spark Bowl’s 2019 first-place winner, recently had the opportunity to take part in a White House roundtable where several leaders spoke on the new biotechnology and biomanufacturing initiative. Lucas Pye-Bio (LPB) is the only large-scale biologics CDMO in Pennsylvania. LPB offers a wide range of services to its clients, including proprietary cell line development, bioprocess development, consulting, and cGLP small-scale bioprocessing. At the White House summit attended by Lyles-Williams, President Joe Biden spoke about the goals of his Executive Order to launch a National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative, which include an investment of over $2 Billion to advance the field. Dr. Tia Lyles-Williams described this federal program as an opportunity to turn the economy around, especially in marginalized communities.

Visit delval.edu/spark for more information on Spark Bowl. For more information about Dr. Tia-Lyles-Williams and the bioengineering and biomanufacturing initiative, visit: biobuzz.io/lucaspye-ceo-dr-tia-lyles-williams-ready-to-support-biomanufacturing-initiative/.