Pitch Contest
Student Entrepreneurs Pitch at MU Invitational
Students from Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College and University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee pitched their emerging businesses at the 2024 Marquette Invitational Business Model Competition for Collegiate Student Entrepreneurs held at coworking space Ward4.
Event organizer, Ryan Kauth, Coleman Chair in Entrepreneurship and Assistant Professor of Practice at Marquette University was joined by Armen Hadjinian, Entrepreneurship Chair and instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College and Jason Dietenberger, multi-disciplinary professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to showcase student entrepreneurs at each school.
The competition was judged by Kelly Armstrong, President of Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, Cordella Jones, Resident Collaboration Director of Community Development Alliance and entrepreneur Dimitrios Tsioutsiopoulos.
The Competitors
BookBlend- Miracle Martin, Milwaukee Area Technical College
BookBlend is an online platform that cultivates reading communities with an emphasis on diverse content creators.
Route to Give- Melanie Barrios, Paulina Pallasigui and Juan Antonio Rodriguez; University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee
Route to Give is an app that connects donation centers with customers and donors.
Breadboxd- Riley Condon, Marquette University
Breadboxd is an online, subscription-based platform focused on bread-based recipes that allows subscribers to review and modify recipes while maintaining a digital recipe box.
Project 18 A.N.A.- ShaTerri Datson, Milwaukee Area Technical College
Project 18 A.N.A. is a mentorship and life skill development program targeted at women aged 18-25 who are struggling.
Just Happy to Be Here- Jack Braun, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Just Happy to Be Here is a streetwear brand with an emphasis on t-shirts that promote positive mental health messages. The company donates a percentage of its revenue to suicide prevention services.
Tailored Remedy- Abigail Crocker, Marquette University
Tailored Remedy is an AI-based tool for personal healthcare management. The company is currently developing its minimal viable product and plans for a beta release of its chatbot in the first quarter of 2025.
BookBlend- Miracle Martin, MATC
Route to Give- Melanie Barrios, Paulina Pallasigui and Juan Antonio Rodriguez; UWM
Breadboxd- Riley Condon, MU
Project 18 A.N.A.- ShaTerri Dotson, MATC
Just Happy to Be Here- Jack Braun, UWM
Tailored Remedy- Abigail Crocker, MU
Winners
In addition to cash prizes, all founders will receive office hours with gBETA Kenosha Program Manager Bethany Larsen.
BookBlend was awarded a placement in the next FOR-M cohort, selected by Maggie Fernandes of We Pivot.
First Place: Just Happy to Be Here- $10,000
Second Place: Tailored Remedy- $7,500
Third Place: Book Blend- $5,000 and FOR-M entry
Fourth Place: Breadboxd- $2,500
Finalists: Route to Give- $1,000 and Project 18 A.N.A. $1,000
