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BIG EAST Hosts Inaugural Startup Challenge

BIG EAST Hosts Inaugural Startup Challenge

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NEW YORK – On Saturday, March 16, the BIG EAST Conference will host the inaugural BIG EAST Startup Challenge, a competition featuring innovations and products from teams of student entrepreneurs representing all 10 schools.  The competition is an important component of the BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament Week activities in New York City, March 13-16.
 
The event will be held at St. John’s University’s Manhattan Campus on Astor Place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
“The Startup Challenge reinforces one of the strategic imperatives of the Conference, which is to enhance academic collaborations across the BIG EAST membership,” remarked BIG EAST Deputy Athletic Director, Vince Nicastro.  “We are excited to see the creative and innovative ideas that BIG EAST students will bring to New York”.
 
Each institution held their own campus competition with the winners advancing to the event in New York.  Each team is comprised of currently enrolled undergraduate students at one of the BIG EAST institutions. Teams will present their pitches to judges, who will rank them on a variety of factors including idea/concept, market need, value proposition, feasibility and presentation.
 
The top 3 teams will receive an honorarium to be used to help grow their startup business, with the overall winner being recognized during the BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship game on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
 
The challenge judges all have ties to the BIG EAST and are seasoned entrepreneurs, innovators, venture capitalists and business leaders. Judges include:

 
  • Smita Conjeevaram, Board Member, SS&C Technologies
  • Wes Day, Vice President of Investments and Partner Deal Management, Teall Capital
  • Steven Farrella, Chairman, MDC Media Partners & Assembly
  • Maggie Ring, Senior Associate, Third Bridge Group Limited
  • Chad Stender, Director of Investments and Operations, SeventySix Capital
  • Rick Stravato, Senior Vice President, Business Develoment, PIMCO
  • Kristy Wallace, Chief Executive Officer, Ellevate Network
  • Will Wyatt, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Donerail Group
 
BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman will give the opening remarks, while Day will give closing remarks and insight into venture capitalism. There will also be a networking opportunity at the conclusion of the event.  BIG EAST Digital Network correspondent Matt Schumacker will serve as the master of ceremonies. And will be streamed live here.
 
Team entries are below. For top-line summaries of each innovation, click here.
 
 School                                                                  Project Name Entrepreneurs
 Butler  Fast Feeds Sarah Oshaw and AJ Louis
Creighton  ARTrepreneur Langston Gray, Donovan Mann and Apoorvaa Bichu
DePaul  Digital Springboard Lance Sanderson
Georgetown  Uhustle Christy Felix and Sinclaire Jones
Marquette  Headphones+ Kevin O’Finn
Providence  WeCycle Arianna Arroyo, Steph Gilet, Daniel Keating, Emily Tabeek
St. John’s  Send Her Essentials Magadelene D. Barjolo, Alexandria C. Ligon
Seton Hall  Sprouts Analytics Steven Catudal
Villanova  Savvy Dating App Brendan Kenny, Fernando Delgado
Xavier  transFarm Casey Smith
 
 
To RSVP to attend the event click here.