MAVPITCH

Château D'Amour

Château D'Amour, created by MBA student Kathryn Trout, offers a complete wedding experience in a château-style venue, encompassing planning, partnerships, and personalized services for all wedding needs. Kathryn received a total of $7,500 to support the development of her wedding event venture, including $5,000 in Phase I and an additional $2,500 in the grand finale.

Kathryn Trout, August 15, 2024

EZBUFF

Felipe Quintero Rojas, a MBA student, founded EZBUFF, a cutting-edge company that provides gamers with stylish and comfortable apparel featuring gamer-centric designs. The product line includes customizable hoodies, t-shirts, and joggers adorned with popular gaming phrases like GGWP and AFK. Targeting Hispanic gamers, EZBUFF allows individuals to express their gaming passion and lifestyle through fashion. Felipe received $7,000 in funding to support the launch of his apparel business, securing $2,000 during Phase I and an additional $5,000 during the grand finale of this year's MavPitch competition, validating the merit of his venture.

Felipe Quintero Rojas, August 15, 2024

NeuroLocker

Sophea Wideman, an undergraduate majoring in management and marketing, and her partner Jill Wideman pitched NeuroLocker, an innovative venture providing comprehensive educational support for neurodivergent and learning-disabled students. This platform simplifies school management both inside and outside the classroom. Sophea and Jill received $12,500 in funding during the first phase of MavPitch and an additional $2,500 in the grand finale, recognizing the value of their initiative.

Jill and Sophea Wideman, August 15, 2024

Picasso's Parcel

Khushi Hiren Joshi, an undergraduate economics student, conceived Picasso's Parcel, an innovative subscription service that delivers curated art supplies to aspiring artists. The company offers themed boxes filled with handcrafted materials sourced from global artisans, complemented by instructional videos and access to an artist community. This comprehensive approach aims to inspire creativity and provide convenient, personalized solutions for both artists and hobbyists. Recognizing the potential of this unique concept, Khushi was awarded $5,000 in each phase of this year's MavPitch competition.

Khushi Joshi, August 15, 2024

RAGstream

Ishan Poudel, an undergraduate studying computer science, developed RAGstream, an AI platform designed to improve interactive data communication. This advanced platform converts different types of resources, such as PDFs and videos, into personalized AI assistants, focusing on important challenges in the Generative AI field. Ishan's presentation impressed the judges at both stages of this year's MavPitch competition, leading to $40,000 in development funding.

Ishan Poudel, August 15, 2024

Smart Door

Joei Assani Aganze, an undergraduate software engineering major, developed Smart Door, an innovative, intelligent door system integrating advanced computerized technology. This pioneering design features a 32-inch touchscreen display, real-time outdoor camera feed, and multifunctional capabilities, marking a significant advancement in smart door technology. Recognizing the potential of Aganze's invention to enhance safety, security, and convenience, his intelligent door system was awarded $40,000 in development funding to further its progress.

Joei Assani Aganze, August 15, 2024

Star Twix Nails

Simone Wallace, an undergraduate marketing major and Goolsby Scholar, founded Star Twix Nails, a one-stop destination for Harajuku and Kawaii press-on nails and supplies. Simone received $15,000 in development funds during the initial phase of MavPitch and another $2,500 during Phase II to nurture her unique decorative fingernail venture.

Simone Wallace, August 15, 2024

MavPitch – August 15, 2024

Pluto Learning

Ethan Debnath, a computer science undergraduate, and Sami Ali, an honors student in information systems, developed Pluto Learning, an innovative platform that partners with colleges to enhance academic support for challenging STEM courses with high DFW (Drop, Fail, Withdraw) rates. Their solution addresses public colleges' difficulties in scaling support for these demanding subjects, including tutor shortages, high turnover, and space constraints. Pluto Learning incorporates AI-powered long-term study groups within classes and provides course-specific AI tutors that function like teaching assistants, offering round-the-clock individual support. The potential of their business model was recognized at this year's MavPitch competition, where Ethan and Sami secured an impressive
$40,000 in development funding, underscoring the significant promise of their approach to improving academic support in higher education.

Ethan Debnath and Sami Ali, August 15, 2024

OurScene

Bryan Cox, an undergraduate computer science student, and his business partner Nakoa Arnold launched OurScene, an innovative platform designed to meet the music industry's demand for authentic connectivity and advanced tools for professionals. At its core, OurScene aims to enhance the streaming experience for musicians and listeners, fostering deeper connections between artists and their fanbase, which is currently lacking. The platform features a comprehensive suite of business tools, including real-time performance metrics, an integrated calendar for streamlined booking, and an inclusive ticketing system that offers faster checkout times, lower fees, and real-time tracking. These elements significantly elevate the concert management experience. Their collaborative effort was recognized with $40,000 in funding, highlighting the potential impact of their venture on the music industry.

Nakoa Arnold and Brian Cox, August 15, 2024