Washburn University Brenneman School of Business Pitch Competition Awards $25,000 to Student Entrepreneurs

Topeka, Kan. - Big business dreams can start with a single idea, and Washburn University is helping student entrepreneurs turn those ideas into reality. Each year, Washburn University's Gregory D. and Ronda K. Brenneman School of Business partners with GO Topeka to award $25,000 through its annual Pitch Competition, giving students the opportunity to take their business ideas from the classroom to the marketplace.

This year's Pitch Competition winners are:

First place ($8,000): Madeline Scott, a freshman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for Madeline's Macarons, an artisan macaron business. Scott is one of a few freshmen who have won first place since the competition began in 2014.

Second place ($6,000): Ethan Burgess, a senior from St. George, Kansas, for Golf 2 U, a mobile golf simulator truck.

Third place ($4,000): Nolan Tremblay, a junior from Topeka, Kansas, for Proximity, a job search platform designed to connect students, universities and employers.

Fourth place ($2,000): Luiz Breda, a senior from Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil, for Budget Buddy, an AI-powered budgeting app for college students.

Fifth place ($1,000): Robert Darling, a senior from Topeka, Kansas, for Fart Friend, a device that attaches to a bed to remove and filter unpleasant odors.

The annual competition is open to all Washburn undergraduate and graduate students, including Washburn Tech students. The competition began in October with the knockout and semifinal rounds. During the knockout round, participants had three minutes to pitch their business ideas without the use of technology to panels of external judges. Competitors presented simultaneously in four rooms, with the top three individuals or teams from each room advancing to the semifinals. The 12 semifinalists then delivered another three-minute pitch, with judges selecting the top five individuals to advance to the finals approximately two and a half weeks later.

During the final round, finalists had up to seven minutes to present their business ideas using technology, followed by up to five minutes of questions from the judges.

"This year's Pitch Competition finals were incredibly close, with all five finalists bringing innovative business ideas to the table and doing an outstanding job presenting them. What people don't always see is the tremendous amount of time, research and hard work these students have put into bringing their ideas to life," said Rick LeJuerrne, senior lecturer of entrepreneurship, Washburn University Brenneman School of Business. "Each of them has already accomplished so much and demonstrated impressive entrepreneurial skills. Their creativity, dedication and determination are exciting to see, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for each of them."

"I honestly didn't expect to win, especially competing against upperclassmen. I had never done anything like this before, so the competition really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I owe so much to my business class, Professor LeJuerrne and my mom, who helped me learn how to develop financial projections, create a business plan and so much more," said Madeline Scott. "I've always dreamed of owning my own business, which is why I came to Washburn to study entrepreneurship. Winning first place has given me the confidence to pursue that dream, and the prize money will help cover startup costs as I continue to grow Madeline's Macarons."

The remaining prize money was distributed among the semifinalists, the top freshman entry, Ashlynn Sauer, from Wichita, Kansas and the top Washburn Tech entry, Jaya Manning, a freshman from Meridian, Mississippi, from the knockout round.

For more information about the Brenneman School of Business Pitch Competition, visit washburn.edu/pitch or Brenneman School of Business, visit washburn.edu/business.

- 30 -

For further information, contact:
Lacey Kinder
Content Specialist
Telephone: (785) 670-2154
Cell: (785) 845-1909
Email: [email protected]