The CESB currently offers three programs. The Bear B.I.D. and Bear B.I.D. X programs are designed to help participants develop their business plans and end with a competition, with prizes awarded to the best business plans. The CESB also hosts entrepreneur panels.
If you have suggestions for another program that the CESB might offer, please share them with us.
Bear B.I.D.
The 2025 Bear B.I.D. program Competition was held April 16, 2025. Congratulations to the winners of the competition:
First Place
Noah Osmanski
Junior, Business Management
RI to MA Window Screen Repair & Handy Work
Mentor: Jay Pike (member, CESB Advisory Board)
Second Place
Lenilda Ribeiro
Graduate student, MBA
Kingdom Cake
Mentor: Bill Brennan (member, CESB Advisory Board)
Third Place
Sarah Devine
Graduate Student, Social Work
Happy Camper Mobile Wellness
Mentored: Tuni Schartner (supporter and member, CESB Advisory Board)
Honorable Mention
Xavier Cato
Graduate student, Business Management
XCredit
Mentor: Stan King (member, CESB Advisory Board)
Leslie Padilla
Sophomore, Criminal Justice
The Access Project
See the Bear B.I.D. program site for details. (BSU login credentials required.)
Entrepreneur Panels
The Entrepreneur Panels connect students, faculty and staff with entrepreneurs through panel discussions with entrepreneurs who have connections to BSU.
Check back for upcoming Fall 2025 Panels!
Bear B.I.D. X
The Bear B.I.D. X program is available to women, immigrants and people of color seeking to open businesses in southeastern Massachusetts. The program helps selected participants prepare business plans and then compete for cash awards in a Shark Tank-style competition. The program was first offered in Summer 2021 under the name Bear’s Den Business Plan Competition. The program was funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development. Because the Bear B.I.D. X program is dependent on grant funding, it will be offered only when such funding is received. If you are interested in learning more about the Bear B.I.D. X program, please contact the CESB Office at CESB@bridgew.edu.