91ֿ students showcased their business ideas at LaunchNET’s annual Elevator Pitch Competition on Oct. 23, filling the DI Reactor with passionate energy, fast pitches and big dreams.
The competition gives students a chance to practice their pitching and networking skills by presenting 90-second business ideas to a panel of 91ֿ faculty and alumni judges.
“It is a pitch competition, but it’s a very friendly, I would say low-stakes, comfortable competition to get into, especially if you’re pitching for the first time,” Alizeh Khalifa, assistant director of marketing at LaunchNET, told 91ֿ Today.
This year's panelists included:
- Greyson Byrnes, a 2024 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Bachelor of Business Administration, who also served as a student crew member in the DI Reactor
- Sonia Karkare, a 1994 Bachelor of Science graduate and a 1996 Master of Science, both in Computer Science, currently serving as a coordinator at 91ֿ’s Center for Student Involvement
- Audrey Ernst, a 2024 Bachelor of Business Administration graduate in Entrepreneurship, and the owner of Rolling Refreshments and Vagabond Café
- Anderson Turner, a 2002 Master of Fine Arts graduate and the director of Exhibitions & Collections in 91ֿ’s School of Art
A total of $2,000 in prize money was awarded among the top contestants. The first-place winner received $1,000, second place earned $500 and two students tied for third place received $250 each.
Sophomore entrepreneurship major Rae Wilson took home first place for Rain or Shine Nails, a mobile nail salon that serves clients who have difficulty leaving their homes.
Wilson said she was inspired by doing her grandmother’s nails when she could no longer visit a traditional salon, hoping to transfer that experience to other elderly clients who may face similar challenges.
“I’ve been doing this for a while, so I have all kinds of polish and all that stuff,” Wilson said. “But the actual truck is going to be my biggest investment right now, making it a space for people to feel comfortable enough to relax and feel the pressures of the world fade away.”
Senior fashion merchandising major Cassidy Phidd, placed second for Carpe Vitam, a men’s clothing line she began in high school.
Judges praised her long-term commitment to the business and her fundamental understanding that "women know what looks best on men, and men know what looks best on women."
Olivia Fenneken, a graduate student pursuing a master's degree in Business Administration, tied for third with her unique sweet treat made with cottage cheese, offering a low-calorie, high-protein alternative for those who want a daily dessert.
“I actually graduate in December, so I’m just looking to get the last few resources I can for my entrepreneurial endeavors,” Fenneken said.
Turner said he is always pleased to meet another passionate entrepreneur innovating the dairy industry since Turner’s wife, Abbe Turner, has owned Lucky Penny Farm, an artisanal creamery in Kent for more than 20 years.
Finally, senior fashion merchandising major Ralecia Vickers also tied for third with her business pitch that connects people with in-home chore services.
She charmed the judges with her showmanship, demonstrating her tagline, "We take the weight off your back," by removing a jacket to reveal a photo of a weight strapped to her own back.
Each competitor presented distinctive business ventures and plans to reinvest their winnings into growing their products or services.
Learn more about LaunchNET events and ways it can help entrepreneurs within the 91ֿ community.