By: Matthew Phillips 

Troy University’s IDEA Bank held its inaugural IDEA Empowerment Competition to inspire innovation and support local entrepreneurs in Pike County, leading to the selection of Troy business owner Jonas Shaw as the grand prize winner.

The IDEA Empowerment Competition invited entrepreneurs and community members from Pike County to submit innovative business ideas as part of the Troy Starters Network, hosted by Troy IDEA Bank. After three rounds of judging—including online reviews and a final in-person panel—three finalists were chosen, and two winners were selected to help shape the future of bettering Pike County.

The competition was open to any individuals that live, work or go to school in Pike County. Projects submitted were required to address a local need, demonstrate measurable community impact and provide a six-month progress report.   

Jonas Shaw, owner of 7sMedia and Studio 7, won the $10,000 grand prize sponsored by Regions Bank for his ideas showcased in Strategic Media for Sustainable Growth. Another finalist, Madalyn Johnson, received a $500 scholarship from the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation.  

For Shaw, who has been working on this idea for years, the award was more than just a financial win; it was validation for a vision rooted in serving the local community of Troy. 

“I was happy for everyone else—the people who got to benefit from this experience,” Shaw said. “Man, finally this is something I have been pushing for years in Pike County. Media and video film advertisement is expensive, and many people have not been able to afford it—or the expertise.”

Shaw’s businesses aim to provide small business owners with high-quality media content, leveraging his training expertise to enhance their marketing skills. 

With the $10,000 award, Shaw plans to invest in better equipment, enabling his business, such as 7S Media, to expand its services and reach more companies that may not otherwise be able to afford marketing support. 

“With 7sMedia, the way we scale our business is to show people that investing in a media team can streamline advertising,” he explained. “It is much more advantageous than hiring just one person. We will have the professional equipment to create organic content—not recycled.”

At the core of Shaw’s message is the idea that creative branding has real power in shaping success, as Shaw uses the term “perception” to target a recipe similar to bread and butter. 

“Perception is reality,” Shaw said assertively. “If you have the creative thought process to change the way people perceive things or if I joined this organization or bought this product—that is the bread and butter for inspiration.”

Looking ahead, Shaw and his business team plan to continue supporting local businesses with giveaways coming soon, while also releasing continued videos that will demonstrate professional advice.

Fore more information on 7S Media, visit the company’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570624301424 or via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/7s.mediaco?igsh=MXBsbmVkY3FwOWkxNw==