Kent, OHIO – Eight students pitched their business 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’s Crawford Hall on November 22. 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:
- Ishwor Acharya, first place with Legacy Webs
- Marissa Jackson, second place with Beauticase
- Olivia Fenneken, third place with Twisty Treasures
Additional participants included the following:
- Sai Venkata Aravind Bandhanadam with Smart Apply
- Nick Hugar with Booby’s Coffee and Tea
- Niree Lowe with Niree's Boutique
- Brad Smith with "Ask Smitty" podcast
- Kay Strahler with WanderLust Remedies
Judges for the event were:
- Greg Basford, former owner, Heritage Packaging, LLC
- Betsy Engles, founder, Acer Business Consultants
- Amalia Munteanu, entrepreneur-in-residence and executive coach
- Faith Voinovich, principal, Ohio Innovation Fund
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 2% of business schools 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.