KENT, Ohio – Eight student businesses pitched their ideas to a panel of executive judges in the John S. and Marlene J. Brinzo Center for Entrepreneurship’s Idea Pitch competition held at Kent State University on November 30. The event was sponsored by the Ohio Innovation Fund.
The Idea Pitch competition helps Kent State students develop their startup companies and pitch their business ideas to a panel of executive judges to win cash prizes.
Winners were:
- Nisha Chaurasia, Sofiya Ibrayeva, Shefali Gupta, Lokesh Jetangi and Ajeet Kumar Sandela, Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) students, won first place with Mark & Park:
- The Mark & Park app is a mobile application through which users can discover available parking spaces in the area in real time, as well as compare pricing and receive step-by-step navigation to a preferable spot.
- The Mark & Park app is a mobile application through which users can discover available parking spaces in the area in real time, as well as compare pricing and receive step-by-step navigation to a preferable spot.
- Nick and Sara Gallimore, Master of Business Administration (MBA) students, won second place with iHungry:
- iHungry is a smarter smart fridge that tells you what you can cook with the ingredients in your refrigerator. It tracks inventory, suggests meals, provides recipes and orders groceries based on the meals in your meal plan.
- iHungry is a smarter smart fridge that tells you what you can cook with the ingredients in your refrigerator. It tracks inventory, suggests meals, provides recipes and orders groceries based on the meals in your meal plan.
- Hannah Tyson, a senior business and entrepreneurship major, won third place with Kota’s Kamp, LLC:
- Kota's Kamp, LLC is a dog daycare and boarding facility in Northeast Ohio. The company provides top-notch pet care to meet the needs of every type of dog, regardless of age, breed, size, and reactivity level. Not every dog enjoys a daycare setting with other dogs, and that's okay! At Kota's Kamp, customers have options.
- Kota's Kamp, LLC is a dog daycare and boarding facility in Northeast Ohio. The company provides top-notch pet care to meet the needs of every type of dog, regardless of age, breed, size, and reactivity level. Not every dog enjoys a daycare setting with other dogs, and that's okay! At Kota's Kamp, customers have options.
- Cliford Fumbui, a senior computer engineering technology major, won fourth place with Chop Jollof:
- Chop Jollof is a traditional African catering business that specializes in popular African foods like Jollof Rice, fried ripe plantains, and fufu. The business offers catering services for small events and parties.
- Chop Jollof is a traditional African catering business that specializes in popular African foods like Jollof Rice, fried ripe plantains, and fufu. The business offers catering services for small events and parties.
- Jasmine Williams, a junior business major, won fifth place with Melodic Braids:
- Melodic Braids is a highly specialized hair salon and studio offering services related to all elements of hair design and hair care. Servicing the greater Warren area, Melodic Braids also offers educational services associated with cosmetology.
- Melodic Braids is a highly specialized hair salon and studio offering services related to all elements of hair design and hair care. Servicing the greater Warren area, Melodic Braids also offers educational services associated with cosmetology.
Additional participants included the following:
- Alexander Angney, a freshman general business major, pitched ALHFR Gift Boxes:
- ALHFR is a student-owned and operated Gift Box Company that sells unique gift boxes. ALHFR provides products that are handpicked and handmade to ensure the highest quality. All gift box contents will also be selected to ensure quality and interest in the item. Gift items will include items such as skincare products, candles, technology, blankets, clothing and hobby gifts such as golf balls.
- Marissa Jackson, a junior entrepreneurship major, pitched The Sexiest Thing Alive Has Arrived:
- The Sexiest Thing Alive Has Arrived is a clothing line that promotes a confident catchphrase for people of all ages and shapes/sizes. Clothing - including crop tops and leggings - will include the catch phrase, “The Sexiest Thing Alive Has Arrived.”
- Sannidhi Patel and Hetu Pate, junior computer information systems majors, pitched Door Step Delivery Services:
- Door Step Delivery Services provides the security of picking up any item from your home or workplace to be delivered to any destination of your choice.
- Door Step Delivery Services provides the security of picking up any item from your home or workplace to be delivered to any destination of your choice.
The judges for the event were:
- Bill Baumel, managing director of the Ohio Innovation Fund;
- Joelle Brock, co-founder, President and CEO, Leading EDJE
- Faith Voinovich, Principal, Ohio Innovation Fund
- Sandra Volpe, Director, Board of Directors of Republic Services (RSG)
About Kent State University’s Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Kent State University’s Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship is among 1% of business schools and colleges worldwide to obtain dual accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in both business and accounting. The college offers 10 undergraduate majors, 14 minors, and an undergraduate Professional Sales Certificate; MBA; master’s degrees in accounting, business analytics and economics; graduate certificates, dual degree programs and a Ph.D. program. For more information about Kent State’s Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship, visit www.kent.edu/crawford.