Students Compete for Cash Prizes to Fuel Business Ventures

Biannual pitch competition empowers student entrepreneurs to turn ideas into reality

Fourteen ambitious students across various majors presented their business ideas to a panel of judges and a room full of supportive peers, advisors and professors during the biannual Business Pitch Competition hosted by the Thomas F. Cone Center for Entrepreneurship, Nov. 4. 

Open to students from any major, the competition challenges contestants to condense hours of preparation, market research and prototyping into a 60-second pitch. The event was a high-energy, “Shark Tank”-style experience with cash awards up to $2,000 for the taking. 

First Place: Jesse Hartland 
Plasticrete 

Entrepreneurship major Jesse Hartland won the first place prize of $2,000 for Plasticrete, a venture aiming to transform everyday plastic waste into sustainable building materials. 

This was Hartland’s third time participating in a Cone Center competition. He won the People’s Choice award in the 2023 Business Pitch Competition and also participated in the spring 2024 Business Plan Competition. During his pitch, Hartland successfully presented his first prototype attempt, the “Plasticrete pebble.”   

“I highly doubt I would have even placed if I didn't have that to present,” he said. “Meeting with the entrepreneurs-in-residence is what ultimately got me to where I am today, as they have provided me with ideas, opportunities and have helped me chart my company's path for the rest of the year. I've worked the most with Ryan Reisdorf. He connected me to the facility I used to prototype and has been an amazing mentor overall.” 

Hartland plans to use his winnings to purchase a commercial-grade plastic shredder. This investment will allow him to start collecting plastic from residences throughout the Greater Nashville area and begin experimenting to develop the ideal "recipe" for production. 

Second Place: Alayna Rindler 
Heaven's Sweet Shop 

First-time participant Alayna Rindler (entrepreneurship) won second place for Heaven’s Sweet Shop, a home bakery specializing in custom cakes and desserts for weddings and celebrations. The Versailles, Ohio native plans to use the $1,000 cash award to purchase a commercial oven for her kitchen at her family’s farm. 

Rindler has fully leveraged Belmont's resources for student entrepreneurs — meeting with entrepreneurs-in-residence, registering for conferences like Brain Trust and attending Well Core events for the chance to connecting with guest industry experts like Candace Nelson of Sprinkles. 

“I met with Megan Feeman, an entrepreneur-in-residence and owner of NoBaked Cookie Dough to go over my pitch, and she gave me great advice,” Rindler said. “The opportunities the Cone Center has provided give me the runway to make my dream a reality.” 

Third Place: Kayla Kirkland  
The Far Out 

Senior entrepreneurship major Kayla Kirkland’s fashion brand The Far Out secured third place and a $500 award, which she plans to use to scale production. 

The Far Out specializes in handcrafted retro-style apparel utilizing recycled denim which reduces the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills.  

“The Cone Center has done so much for my entrepreneurship journey,” Kirkland said. “Not only has it connected me with other student entrepreneurs, but it has also created so many amazing opportunities for me such as experiencing inspiring guest speakers and giving me the opportunity to attend entrepreneurial and networking events throughout Nashville.” 

People's Choice: Sabrina Oostburg 
NIL Roadmap 

The People’s Choice award of $250 was given to sport administration student Sabrina Oostburg for NIL Roadmap, a business to help high school student athletes monetize their brand by providing social media strategy and personal branding guidance. 

The judges panel included alumnus Brandon Littleton ‘10 of Bag Lady’s Fry Joint,  adjunct faculty member Lacie Thorne and two entrepreneurs-in-residence: co-founder of NoBaked Cookie Dough Megan Feeman and founder of KLLW, LLP Drew Lamb. 

The competition not only showcased the entrepreneurial spirit thriving across campus but also highlighted the dedication required to succeed. The Cone Center serves all students on campus, not just business students. By offering this opportunity to all students, Belmont continues to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, empowering future innovators to bring their visions to life regardless of their field of study.