Backed by Buntin family support, students earn funding and gain hands-on experience for real business ventures
Ten students put their creative business ideas — and their nerves — to the test at the annual Buntin Pitch Competition hosted by the Thomas F. Cone Center for Entrepreneurship, April 8.
The competition is the culmination of weeks (or even months) of preparation and fine tuning by ambitious student entrepreneurs. Over the course of the semester, they have tested their ideas, refined their pitches and sharpened their stories — crafting engaging, five-minute business pitches to present before a panel of industry judges.
The experience mirrors the real world: high stakes, high feedback and high potential in the form of a shark-tank style competition with real money on the line.
“One of the toughest obstacles for a student entrepreneur who has a great, big idea, is not being able to afford that next necessary tool they need to continue to pursue their venture,” shared Elizabeth Gortmaker, executive director of the Cone Center. “We want to provide some of that capital to help them.”
The Buntin Pitch Competition is the last in a series of pitch contests hosted by the Cone Center, made possible from the generous investment of the Buntin family.
Buntin Impact Over the Years
Each year, the pitches get stronger and the pot gets larger thanks to the Buntin family's investment.
Buntin Family Legacy
In addition to the awards given to the top three pitches, the Buntin family awarded each participant $1,000 at the inaugural competition in 2023. Since then, the finalist checks have increased each year, matching the incredibly creative business pitches presented by students.
Frazer Buntin, son of Jeffery Buntin Sr. and COO of Way Spring, served on the judging panel and offered advice to each student competitor throughout the event. For Buntin, the competition honors his father's entrepreneurial legacy while investing directly in the next generation of business leaders — and he sees the experience itself, more than any cash award, as the real prize.
He also encouraged participants to embrace the process, noting that even failed ventures offer meaningful lessons that shape future success.
“I hope all of your companies are wildly successful, but that's not the goal,” Frazer said. “Even if none of these companies turn into more, going through this you will learn something and experience the educational process here at Belmont.”
Varina Buntin (wife), Jeffery Buntin Jr. (son) and Varina Buntin Willse (daughter) also attended the competition, with some family members sharing more encouragement and support with the student competitors.
“Thank you for your creativity and really going for it,” Varina said.
Student Finalists
This year, ten students across seven academic programs competed for a pot of $6,750, with student finalists receiving cash prizes for four awards.
First Place, $3,500
Ana Pena | interior design and entrepreneurship ‘29
When Pen Meets Purpose is a customizable guided journal designed for people who want the benefits of bullet journaling without having to design it themselves. With thoughtfully created layouts and prompts, it makes it easy to build a consistent, creative journaling habit that supports focus, reflection and mental clarity.
Second Place, $2,000
Dylan Hilburn | economics ‘26
Game Launch helps small studios break through the noise of the PC gaming marketplace by curating high-impact, revenue-generating release events. The company gives creators the strategy and momentum needed to successfully launch their games so more users can enjoy them.
Third Place, $1,000
Lola Anderson | songwriting ‘27
Faith and Fringe creates one-of-a-kind, hand-burned fedora hats that turn personal stories and faith into wearable art. Each piece empowers customers to express who they are in a bold, meaningful way.
People’s Choice, $250
Mary Cerroni | fashion design ‘26
Sew on the Go is a traveling alterations service. From quick fixes to major tailoring, it redefines service by making style seamless, accessible and built around your schedule.
Beyond the Pitch
From refining their pitches to receiving feedback from industry professionals, students are immersed in the kind of experiential learning that continues long after the final awards are announced at the pitch competition.
Cone Center resources connect students with entrepreneurs-in-residence who are available throughout the entire year. Students are also invited to attend workshops, idea bootcamps and coffee talks with guest entrepreneurs. These resources help empower and support Belmont students as they work to achieve their dreams to launch and build their businesses.
“The last thing we want any of our entrepreneurship students to do is spend four years working on their business plan in their dorm room,” Gortmaker said. “Instead, we want to create opportunities and avenues for you to go out and bring your idea to life while you're here on campus.”
Pitch competitions reflect a university-wide approach to entrepreneurship, where students from across disciplines are equipped with the tools, mentorship and industry access needed to bring creative ventures to life.
While some students leave with funding, all students leave with momentum for the next step in their entrepreneurial journey.
Learn more about the program in this story