Eyewear Designer Wins New Venture Competition

By Alex Brown | Inside Indiana Business 

FORT WAYNE - Ivy Tech Community College Northeast has announced Jamal Robinson as the winner of its 2016 New Venture Competition. Robinson, founder of DESIAR Eyewear, has been awarded $35,000 in capital.

Robinson says he will use his prize money to launch his Hoosier line of eyewear, which have wooden frames and are manufactured in Indiana. Ivy Tech says Robinson sold his first pair of DESIAR Eyewear in 2012 and, within two years, had major companies such as Luxottica and TJX carrying his sunglasses.

Robinson was one of three finalists announced in July, all of whom presented their business plans Thursday to a panel of more than 30 judges, who followed up with question-and-answer sessions.