Annual Elevator Pitch Competition by Lindner College of Business Draws 100 Teams

Ninety seconds was all it took for each entrepreneurial team of UC students to pitch its idea for an innovative new company and win over a panel of discerning judges.

Seven teams emerged victorious from a field of nearly 100 teams hailing from three UC campuses in this year’s Innovation Quest Elevator Pitch Competition (IQ E-Pitch Competition). Each team shared a compelling new startup idea with strong investment potential. 

First-place graduate winners included Barbara Alison Watson, PharmD '15; Caroline Barone, PharmD,' 15; Jessica Hatton, PharmD '15; Emily Kolb, PharmD '15; Danielle Soriano, PharmD '15, for their virtual pharmacist concept: My Home Pharmicist. Second-place graduate winners included Justin Straub, BS '14, MBA '14; and Zhen Li, PhD '14, for their alternative fuel manufacturing business which will produce a cost effective and environmentally friendly substitute for coal: Fuellet. Third-place graduate winner was Jensin Wallace (MDes, 2014), for her innovative new clothing line concept: Jensin Wallace Designs.

First-place undergraduate winners included Andrew Kordahi, BS '14; Cristyn Scarbrough, BS '14; Kerry O'Connell, BS '14; and Andy Robinson, BS '14, for their medical device concept: Speculum 2. Second-place undergraduate winner was Jon Kosenick, BS '14, for his east coast-oriented skate shoe venture: Irving Footwear NYC. Third-place undergraduate winner was Andrew Savitz, BA '15, for his virtual dressing room for online shoppers.

These winners were among some 240 UC students from the Carl H. Lindner College of Business; McMicken College of Arts and Sciences; College-Conservatory of Music, College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning; College of Engineering & Applied Science; and the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, who made a 90-second “elevator pitch” to judges to sell their entrepreneurial idea.

The evening started with a rousing address by UC President Santa J. Ono, who enthusiastically welcomed participants to the competition and encouraged the pursuit of entrepreneurship at UC as a vehicle for economic growth in our region. Lindner College of Business Dean David Szymanski presided at this year’s event with professor Thomas Dalziel, competition founder and executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship Education & Research. Event Chair professor Catalin Macarie, emceed the event and led a group 26 expert judges and more than 40 student volunteers who together helped the event run smoothly. Special guest speakers included local entrepreneurs, Trew Quackenbush and Corey Ward of TOM & CHEE, who regaled participants with the story of their entrepreneurial journey.

The competition is organized by UC’s Center for Entrepreneurship Education & Research in the Lindner College of Business and was made possible by generous support from numerous sponsors including Capacity Energy Solutions, Capstory, Charitable Words Scholars, Easley Enterprises, International TechneGroup, Lindner College of Business Student Action Team, O’Keeffe PR & Marketing Solutions, SS&G, and Target.