Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Our competitions are open to all SFA students, regardless of major.
Campuswide annual "Shark Tank"-style competition
Hosted in April, judges evaluate contestants on:
- the market opportunities for their businesses
- and their situational awareness, pitches, business models and go-to-market strategies.
The fourth annual competition was held April 25, 2025. Congratulations, Jacks!
First place $10,000 prize: BanzBraiding
Pitched by: Kamara Hutchins, computer information systems sophomore
Kamara Hutchins, the entrepreneur behind BanzBraiding, is redefining hair care for the modern, on-the-go client. As a student entrepreneur, Hutchins has built a dynamic hairstyling business that blends affordability, trend-savvy technique and unmatched convenience — all from a dorm-room chair.
Specializing in long-lasting, stylish protective styles and silk presses, she caters to natural hair enthusiasts, students and professionals alike. What sets Hutchins apart is her personal approach: she doesn’t just do hair — she delivers confidence. With flexible scheduling around class times, digital booking through Acuity and a welcoming, self-care-driven experience, Hutchins ensures her clients feel seen, celebrated and refreshed. Her hustle has already generated impressive revenue in just the first half of 2025, all while managing a full academic load.
As she looks to scale, Hutchins is leveraging digital tools and expanding her product offerings to create even more "good hair days" for her growing community. With roots in resilience and style, BanzBraiding is poised to become a standout brand in the $300-billion beauty and self-care industry.
Second place $5,000 prize: TiltingTiles
Pitched by: David Lebaillif, electrical engineering senior
David Lebaillif’s Tilting Tiles is a groundbreaking fusion of interactive art and cutting-edge engineering — an innovative kinetic sculpture that transforms any space into an immersive experience. Inspired by six-sided puzzles and pieces, this modular installation engages viewers through motion and light, bridging creativity with code.
What makes Tilting Tiles truly exceptional is its fully custom, scalable software and hardware system — allowing over-the-air updates and seamless integration across installations worldwide. Each tile is handcrafted using in-house 3D printing and custom circuitry, showcasing both artistic vision and technical mastery.
With a first-to-market strategy and unique aesthetic, Tilting Tiles is designed for high-traffic, high-impact public environments — universities, libraries, airports and galleries — backed by connections to prominent art consultants and exhibition spaces.
As Lebaillif prepares to finalize production and marketing efforts, Tilting Tiles stands poised to disrupt how we experience art — kinetic, digital and infinitely customizable.
Third place $2,500 prize: Two-Tiered Bakery
Pitched by: Rory Price, entrepreneurship junior
Rory Price’s Two-Tiered Bakery is more than just a bakery — it’s a space where creativity, connection and confections come together. Designed to meet the growing demand for engaging, hands-on activities, Two-Tiered Bakery combines a traditional custom dessert shop with a one-of-a-kind upstairs event experience. Customers can grab a delicious treat downstairs, then head upstairs for unforgettable baking classes, birthday parties, girls' night outs and corporate team-building events.
With a mission to spark joy and bring people together, Two-Tiered Bakery taps into a market hungry for fun, mess-free bonding experiences that foster creativity and community. The venture already has momentum through successful pop-up events and custom orders.
From personalized cupcakes to collaborative baking challenges, Two-Tiered Bakery is baking up more than sweets — it’s baking memories.
Honorable mentions $1,250 prize
Perfume and More: Affordable luxury, personalized for you
Pitched by: Francisco Bracho and William Thompson, entrepreneurship seniors
The Hydroponic Pantry: Fresh produce, right from your kitchen
Pitched by: Chloe Culver, agriculture senior
2024 winners
First place
The first-place prize of $10,000 went to Sauce Dudes, an online platform that delivers “only the best gourmet sauce and spice blends to market from southern style recipes,” by Brady Dill, a senior history major from Spring.
Second place
Jordan Gonzales, a senior entrepreneurship major from Nacogdoches, earned the $5,000 second-place prize with Beyond the Vine Cellars, a mobile wine trailer for events.
Third place
The $2,500 third-place prize went to Wyatt Brasher, an entrepreneurship junior from Texas City, for Immersify event-planning software with augmented- and virtual-reality features to help clients truly see how an event will look.
2023 winners
First place
The first-place prize of $5,000 went to Clarity Vape Filters, a one-size-fits-all filter for electronic cigarettes by Walker Ridgeway, a senior in entrepreneurship from The Woodlands.
Second place
Management exchange student Bacem Ben Daly from Tunisia earned the $3,000 second-place prize with Salve, a social networking app that matches locations and similar interests.
Third place
The $1,500 third-place prize went to Abbi Williams, a business junior from Nacogdoches, for Conceal What Matters, a line of modest, conceal-carry athletic wear.
2022 winners
First place
The first-place prize of $5,000 went to Reefvita, a sea moss smoothie business developed by Stephan McLawrence, a graduate student in finance from Carriacou, Grenada.
Second place
General business sophomore Quinton Williams of Dallas earned the $3,000 second-place prize with his apparel business event QC B5 Beauty Pageant.
Third place
The $1,500 third-place prize went to entrepreneurship major and senior Ryan Waugh of Austin for his educational video game Play Gov.
