By Janet Cruz

Arizona State University HavaStartup named Andrea Helart winner of the annual HavaStartup Competition at ASU Lake Havasu Campus, Wednesday night.

HavaStartup is a business plan competition which works in partnership with the Lake Havasu Chamber Foundation for Education and Leadership and Better Business Bureau.

It’s goal is to inspire new and existing businesses looking to create a plan or expand their new business that will result in economic development.

HavaStartup is organized each year by Arizona State University (ASU) Lake Havasu City Campus, and Co-organized by Dr. Leepsa Nabaghan Madhabika, also with Arizona State University.

Helart was awarded $1,500 to help fund her leadership consulting venture – ULU Consulting – and will be applied toward leadership development efforts in the community.

“As an entrepreneur and a person who is invested in growth and opportunties that exist in our community, I am grateful for programs such as this that exist for small businesses,” said Andrea Helart, Owner and Operator of ULU Consulting and winner of Havastartup Competition 2022-23.

Competition began in November 2022, with an information session and in the following months, contestants submitted a business plan. From there, contestants moved on to a second round where they were paired with mentors from many businesses and backgrounds.

Before the award ceremony, contestants presented their plan in front of  community members.

Photo Courtesy ASU

Advisory Board members include; Dr. Carla Harcleroad, Executive Director, ASU, Kryistyna Hook, Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest, Lisa Krueger, President and CEO, Lake Havasu Area Chamber, and Jason Mullavey, Sr. Systems Analyst, Desktop Services (UTO).

Mayor Cal Sheehy was in attendance to support the event.

All Lake Havasu City residents with a new business idea, or an already present business operating for less than three years can apply for next year’s competition.

For more information on HavaStartup competition, contact co-organizer, Dr. Leepsa Nabaghan Madhabika at lmadhabi@asu.edu.