Finalists Announced for UBalt’s ‘Rise to the Challenge’ Business Pitch Competition

Judges representing UBalt’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation have selected seven businesses as finalists for the upcoming “Rise to the Challenge” Pitch Competition. The annual event, now in its tenth year, provides an opportunity for members of the greater UBalt community to pitch ideas and concepts for new and existing businesses before a live audience of their peers, supporters and entrepreneurial experts from the Baltimore community.

This year’s panel consisting of undergrads, grad students and alumni will compete, in two separate business categories, Aspiring Business Ventures and Existing Business Ventures, for almost $30,000 in seed money and in-kind professional services.

This spring’s finalists and their businesses in Aspiring Business Ventures are:

  • Clarrissa Cozart, Tailored Fit, a fashion line for tall boys that will allow customers to shop waist to inseam
  • Ikechukwu Opaigbeogu, Zety Taste, which is planning to offer frozen, ready-to-eat, nutritious meals for young adults in their mid-20s and 30s
  • Jonah Willard, Grease Garage, a planned shared-economy car garage, where car enthusiasts can meet to work on their vehicles, at their leisure
  • Na’Quon Willet, Investment Neighbor, a subscription service that provides financial, market, and economic data to help retail investors make independent decisions

And the finalists and businesses in the Existing Business Ventures category are:

  • Audriana Duvall, Single Baes, which offers custom shirts that showcase a person’s interests and hobbies so they can meet someone in real life, not online
  • Samantha Mellerson, HeART Sam, a maker of premium-quality knitted fabrics that combine Afrocentric depictions and wearable art
  • Ashley Norman, Plasticology LLC, a retailer for national artisans that offers zero waste, eco-friendly and environmentally safe toiletries

This dynamic group will present before a live audience and a panel of expert judges, representing the local business ecosystem who will band together to select the winners.

“As always, I was impressed by the diversity of the submissions and the breadth of this year’s applicants, who hail from all corners of the UBalt community,” said Henry Mortimer, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. “It’s exciting to see so many unique ideas put forth by our students and alumni, and an honor to support their efforts through the CEI. I imagine the judges are going to have their work cut out for them in late April. This is shaping up to be our best pitch competition yet.”

The “Rise to the Challenge” competition, sponsored by UB’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and designed to generate awareness of new and emerging innovative business ventures nurtured by the UB community, is scheduled for Thursday, April 22, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required to attend. For more information, visit the Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ubalts-10th-annual-rise-to-the-challenge-business-competition- tickets-297351304757

The University of Baltimore Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, named one of the Baltimore Business Journal’s “Top Incubators and Accelerators for 2019,” directs support and assistance to UB students and alumni interested in building or growing an enterprise. We do this through support, culture, events, education and research, and connecting with the business community. Meet with one of our counselors to discuss launching or growing your business.

Visit us at www.ubalt.edu/cei for more information.