Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– All six Stephen F. Austin State University colleges were represented by the students who pitched their business ideas at the fourth annual “Shark Tank”-style Lumberjack Entrepreneurship Competition April 25.
“I am continually amazed by the creativity, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit these students bring forward,” said Matthew Smilor, director of the Rusche College of Business’ Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship. “Each year, we see more viable, functional businesses taking shape — a true testament to the drive, talent and entrepreneurial zeal that SFA students possess.”
Contestants were judged on the market opportunities for their businesses as well as their situational awareness, pitches, business models and go-to-market strategies by three judges: Mark Quigley, principal at QHM Partners in Houston; Erika Tolar, SFA alumna and chief of staff and global director of sales at Shipcom.AI in Houston; and Hannah Willis, SFA alumna and owner and floral arranger at Both Bloom Studios in Nacogdoches.
“It was great fun and quite inspiring to see the future of Deep East Texas is in good hands with the thoughtful preparation and many viable startup businesses presented,” Quigley said.
The competition began with the lightning round, during which 12 students pitched their ideas. The judges narrowed down the contestants to five businesses for the final round.
“All ventures showcased impressive creativity and a strong entrepreneurial spirit that I know will take these contestants far,” Willis said. “I feel honored to have engaged with their bright ideas, and I hope our feedback contributes to their continued success.”
The first-place prize of $10,000 went to Banz Braiding, a hairstyling business that blends “affordability, trend-savvy technique and unmatched convenience — all from a dorm-room chair,” by Kamara Hutchins, sophomore computer information systems major from Fresno, Texas. David Lebaillif, senior electrical engineering major from Nacogdoches, earned the $5,000 second-place prize with Tilting Tiles, an innovative kinetic sculpture that “transforms any space into an immersive experience.” The $2,500 third-place prize went to Rory Price, entrepreneurship junior from Edgewood, for 2-Tier Bakery, which offers “delicious treats downstairs and baking classes, birthday parties, girls’ nights out and corporate team-building events upstairs.”
The honorable mention businesses that earned $1,250 each were Perfumes and More, by Francisco Bracho and William Thompson, entrepreneurship seniors from Houston and McKinney, respectively, and The Hydroponic Pantry, by Chloe Culver, forestry and agriculture senior from Argyle.
“The Lumberjack Entrepreneurship Competition was such a fun and inspiring experience,” Hutchins said. “It gave me the chance to share my business, connect with others and really lean into what makes my business unique. I stayed true to myself, worked hard, built on what I knew and let my passion speak — that made all the difference."
To learn more about the competition, center and SFA’s entrepreneurship program, visit sfasu.edu/ace.