Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship has announced the three winners of the Pop-up Pitch Competition held throughout the fall semester. The top three video pitches were decided by audience applause during halftime at the SFA men’s basketball game Feb. 2.
“The student entrepreneurs took center stage at halftime and gave it their all,” said Matt Smilor, director of ACE. “Watching the entire arena rally behind them during their video pitches was an unforgettable moment. While only three were awarded the top honors, every finalist proved they are building something worthwhile and left the crowd wanting more.”
The competition began with over 130 students submitting a 30-second video pitch about a business or problem they wanted to solve. The seven finalists — two from the College of Liberal and Applied Arts and one from each of SFA’s five other academic colleges — received $1,000 and presented their video pitches at the basketball game.
The first-place prize of $3,000, as determined by audience applause, went to Canned Tortilla Dough by Elizabeth Perales, a junior psychology major from Frisco representing the College of Liberal and Applied Arts. Canned Tortilla Dough combines the homemade taste of fresh, flour tortillas with the convenience of canned baked goods.
Kaitlin Eckert, a sophomore environmental science major from Houston representing the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, earned second place and $2,500 for Bee-Neighborly, a wildflower lawn alternative that supports pollinators and repels pests.
Madden Bennett, a senior media and communications major from Austin and another College of Liberal and Applied Arts representative, received third place and $2,000 for EverCup. The small, ultraviolet-C light attaches to the inside of reusable water bottles and cups and sanitizes the vessels in 60 seconds.
“I was genuinely impressed by both the originality of the concepts and the confidence behind all the pitches,” Smilor said.
All seven of the Pop-up Pitch Competition winners will compete in the semifinals March 4. The top five teams from that competition will advance to the finals and pitch in front of a live panel of judges at the fifth annual Lumberjack Entrepreneurship Competition April 23. They’ll compete for over $20,000 in scholarships that will be awarded to the top three teams.
To be considered for a semifinal spot, SFA students can submit an online application and video by Feb. 18. For more information about ACE and its competitions, visit sfasu.edu/ace.