A ‘Goode’ idea: Marketing major represents GCSU at USG Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition

By Gil Pound

J unior Savannah Goode learned in Dr. Mary Rickard's professional selling class that a product's value is what increases its marketability. An idea that solves a widespread problem can catapult a concept to a commodity.

Goode believes she has one of those ideas with TraySync, a workflow solution app designed to improve efficiency in the dental industry. The marketing major won Georgia College & State University's 2026 Venture Capital Challenge with TraySync and will represent the Bobcat nation at the University System of Georgia Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition April 6-7 in Marietta, Georgia. The competition will bring together the brightest college student minds from across the state to pitch their entrepreneurial ideas in pursuit of a $25,000 cash prize, mentorship from industry experts and access to leading institutional accelerators.

Goode's innovative product comes from firsthand experience working as an assistant in a pediatric dentist office in her hometown Savannah, Georgia. She started there as a senior in high school, coding patient files for insurance, charting and setting up instrument trays for dental procedures.

"One thing that I really caught on to during my first eight months there was how difficult it was to master setting up a tray, especially for new hires," Goode said.

With dozens of specialized instruments to choose from, tray assembly is not a uniform process. It can vary by procedure, tooth, surface, and even by the doctor carrying out the procedure.

"It would be frustrating for the doctor when there was something missing," said Goode. "It messes up the flow of the procedure and the day. On top of that, materials are wasted. This was a problem I knew I wanted to find a solution to."

Goode researched to see if some sort of product existed. When she found none, she set out to develop one herself, and the TraySync concept was born.

"Savannah told me about her TraySync idea in professional selling class and asked if she could use it for a product presentation assignment," said Dr. Rickard, associate professor of marketing at Georgia College. "Her passion and deliberate attention to detail really stood out to me when she presented. Savannah truly believes in this product and I believe in her."

"My Georgia College professors have helped me in a multitude of ways," said Goode. "They are so invested in helping me grow as a student and a future professional."

Currently in the development phase, TraySync would allow dental assistants to input the variables for a procedure and give a visual representation of how the instrument tray should be laid out, cutting down on errors and saving time. Goode envisions the program operating alongside electronic charting systems.

"We're in phase one developing the most minimum version, something we can start piloting in the office where I've worked," she said. "We'll hopefully have it in the next couple of months so we can start trying it out and working out the kinks."

The $25,000 prize money from next week's USG competition would be a big boost in moving the product forward to phase two, which would include the ability to take a photo of a completed tray and use artificial intelligence to identify any missing or incorrect instruments.

Goode is scheduled to present to USG judges April 6 from 4:30 to 4:40 p.m. Those wanting to follow along can tune in to the Ballroom A livestream here. The top six projects advance to the final round that begins April 7 at 1:30 p.m.

Bobcats innovate

As the winner at the Georgia College level, Goode took home first prize and $400 in the March 4 Venture Capital Challenge hosted by the GCSU Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. While TraySync stood out above the rest, the competition was brimming with innovative ideas, including junior Reid Bissell's tennis/pickleball court reservation app, CourtTime. Bissell, a junior on the Bobcat men's tennis team, won second place and $200. The Most Innovative award and $100 went to Luke Sheat, Benjamin Blankenship and Charles Bridges. Their CropOptics concept would utilize drone technology to monitor crops for better yield, improving outcomes in the agribusiness industry.

Header Images: The Georgia College Venture Capital Competition was March 4. Judges Kara Lassiter, Lou Childs, Richard King and Missy Swicord look on during the pitches. First place winner Savannah Goode will present at the USG's statewide competition on April 6. (Photos: Gil Pound)