Final Round of the 2024 MAVPitch competition awards student entrepreneurs over $100,000
The Maverick Entrepreneur Programs awarded $117,500 to 9 University of Texas at Arlington student entrepreneurs on August 15, 2024, through the final round of the 2024 MAVPitch competition.
The MAVPitch competition is an annual entrepreneurial competition in which students craft ideas for businesses and products and pitch them to a panel of judges to receive award money to start or continue their business venture.
Dr. Jeffrey McGee, University of Texas at Arlington College of Business Professor of Management, spoke about the importance and purpose of the event, and how it helps students improve their entrepreneurial skills.
“This event is a great way for students to be exposed to entrepreneurship as well as help them foster a sense of innovation and outside the box thinking,” said Dr. McGee. “The structure of the program itself instills confidence and helps students improve their critical skills. It also gives a chance to win up to $40,000 in prize money.”
A MAVPitch participant gives a presentation to the audience and judges at the 2024 MAVPitch Final Round on August 15th, 2024. (Photo by Jalen Larry)
The MAVPitch competition is run like a Shark Tank style pitch competition where students pitch realistic business ideas and products to a panel of carefully selected judges of business owners and entrepreneurs. The event is split between different rounds, with one being conducted in the spring and culminating just before the fall semester. Between the first and second round, students participate in an 8-week course to improve their skills and refine their business models. This setup allowed students to practice their pitching abilities, planning skills, and presentation capabilities and receive feedback from professional entrepreneurs.
Students are awarded monetary rewards based on the feasibility, potential for success, and professional pitching ability. Students are eligible to win up to $15,000 during the first round and up to $25,000 during the second round. At the final round, four CEO’s and founders of local companies made up the judging panel.
“The folks we bring as judges are truly eager to help our students because they’ve been through it,” said Dr. McGee. “Even with that, the environment is very supportive, and uplifting and our students gain valuable knowledge and feedback.”
A MAVpitch participant explains his business model to the audience and judges at the 2024 MAVPitch Final Round on August 15th, 2024. (Photo by Jalen Larry)
The MAVPitch event not only allows students to compete for monetary prizes that could help them begin their businesses or contribute to their further education, but also helps them gain vital entrepreneurial experience.
“I learned how to pitch a business, look at financial details, and more importantly, learned how to convey the right thing to the right audience,” said Ishan Poudel, developer of RAGStream and MAVPitch participant. “The competition is a great system for students. It forces you to really flesh out your business ideas, and having it judged and validated by industry leaders is great.”
Along with the feedback from the judges, MAVPitch partnered with TechFW, a Fort Worth based nonprofit entrepreneur support organization, to help students bolster their pitches and refine their business plans during the eight-week course between rounds.
“Our assumption is that these participants will be entrepreneurs. So, we equip them with the skills, knowledge, and experience that can help reap benefits from whatever venture they do,” said Hayden Blackburn, TechFW Chief Operating Officer. “We help them develop skillsets like figuring out market potential, who their customer base will be, and how to create a roadmap to execute on. Beyond that, it’s about the personal reflection they get from their experience and the confidence.”
The feedback from the judges and guidance from professionals at TechFW allowed the student entrepreneurs to improve their business models, grow in confidence, and prepare for their future with new skillsets and techniques.
These judges included:
Molly Sandlin - Founder and CEO, CAET Project Management Consultants, LLC
James Sellers - Founder and CEO, Sellmark
Mirna Sellers - Founder and CEO, Get Wellness
Evelyn Torres – Founder and CEO, Solaris Technologies Services
MAVPitch judges smile and chat between rounds of the MAVPitch Final Round on August 15th, 2024. (Photo by Jalen Larry)
After the planning, practicing, refining, and pitching of the student entrepreneur ventures, 9 were awarded monetary prizes based on their pitches in the final round of the MAVPitch competition.
This year’s awardees for the final round are as follows:
Château D'Amour provides a comprehensive wedding experience in a château-style venue, encompassing planning, partnerships, and personalization for all wedding essentials. Château D'Amour received $2,500 in the final round.
EZBUFF caters to gamers with trendy, comfortable attire featuring gamer-centric designs. The product range includes customizable hoodies, tees, and joggers with popular gaming jargon like GGWP and AFK. Focused on Hispanic gamers, EZBUFF offers stylish expressions of gaming passion and lifestyle. EZBUFF received $5,000 in the final round
OurScene addresses the music industry's need for a groundbreaking platform that enhances connectivity and empowers industry professionals with robust tools. The platform fosters deeper connections between artists and their fanbase, featuring real-time KPIs, an integrated booking calendar, and an inclusive ticketing system for a seamless concert management experience. OurScene received $25,000 in the final round.
NeuroLocker provides comprehensive educational assistance to neurodivergent and learning-disabled students, simplifying school management both inside and outside the classroom. NeuroLocker received $2,500 in the final round.
Picasso's Parcel unlocks creative potential with curated art supplies and themed boxes. It offers artisanal materials, exclusive tutorials, and access to a vibrant artist community for a personalized artistic journey. Picasso’s Parcel received $5,000 in the final round.
Pluto Learning is a platform that introduces AI-driven long-term study groups and provides a TA-like AI tutor for 24/7 individual support. Pluto Learning received $25,000 in the final round.
RAGstream offers an AI platform for interactive data communication. It transforms resources like PDFs and videos into personalized AI assistants, addressing critical challenges in Generative AI. Ragstream received $25,000 in the final round.
Smart Door pioneers intelligent doors with built-in computerized systems, featuring a 32-inch touchscreen, live outdoor camera feed, and multifunctional capabilities, setting the stage for advanced smart door technology. Smart Door received $25,000 in the final round.
Star Twix Nails is a one-stop destination for Harajuku and Kawaii press-on nails and supplies. Star Twix Nails received $2,500 in the final round.
For more information about MAVPitch, visit go.uta.edu/mavpitch
MAVPitch participants pose for a photo with a giant check after the competition on August 15th, 2024. (Photo by Jalen Larry)