Four deserving student entrepreneurs received giant checks as winners of the Business Pitch Competition hosted by the Thomas F. Cone Sr. Center for Entrepreneurship on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
A total of eight students from various majors presented their business elevator pitches to an engaged audience and a group of knowledgeable judges.
“An elevator pitch is essentially the time it takes you to get in an elevator and ride it to the top floor,” Executive Director of the Cone Center Elizabeth Gortmaker said. “You’ve got one minute.”
“Can you get the audience interested in what you’re doing?”
“Can you share what you’re doing quickly and concisely?”
“Can you get us compelled and have us bought into that idea?”
All eight students were up to the challenge and presented with professionalism and energy. A poll from the audience selected Entrepreneurship major Jesse Hartland for the People’s Choice award.
Marketing & Economics major Gracie Singleton and Marketing and International Business major Cece Murray won the first-place award of $1,500 for Bach’ n Style, a one-stop shop party planner.
Entrepreneurship major Tate Renner pitched the concept of an event rental company geared to employing veterans – R&R Events – and won the second-place prize of $1,000.
International Business and Creative and Entertainment Industries major Catherine Fischer won third place and a $500 cash prize for Homestead Health, a product line focused on health and wellness.
Two of the four judges currently serve as entrepreneurs-in-residence: Placemat founder Ryan Reisdorf and ABEDNEGO founder Meredith Mazie. Alumni Drew Lamb, founder of KLLW, LLP, and Sarah Moseley, founder of Songbird City, were the additional judges.
The Business Pitch Competition is one of several ways Belmont’s entrepreneurship program supports and cultivates the entrepreneurial spirit which saturates the entire campus community, regardless of a student's major.
To learn more, visit the Jack C. Massey College of Business.
Pitch competition judges from left to right: Sarah Moseley, Drew Lamb, Meredith Mazie and Ryn Reisdorf
Marketing & Economics major Gracie Singleton and Cece Murray presented with the first-place award by judge Drew Lamb
Entrepreneurship major Tate Renner presented with the second-place award by judge Meredith Mazie
International Business and Creative and Entertainment Industries major Catherine Fischer presented with the second-place award by judge Sarah Moseley
Entrepreneurship major Jesse Hartland presented with check for People’s Choice check by Ryan Reisdorf
Finance major Mika Sibinkic pitched Living Ergo
Jesse Hartland presenting Plasticrete
Entrepreneurship major Jackson DeShaw presenting Apostle Clothing
Tate Renner presenting R&R Events
Entrepreneurship major Grayson O’Brien presenting Socialite