CHICAGO, Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Future Founders, a non-profit organization that believes every youth can become an entrepreneur, hosted their 2nd Annual U.Pitch College Elevator Pitch Competition & Showcase on December 7 in downtown Chicago. During the event, 24 collegiate entrepreneurs from 16 universities in 11 states participated in a high-energy elevator pitch competition for national honors and an $11,000 prize pool.
Joshua Doering from Morningside College in Iowa won first place ($5,000) for his innovative company Seed Slide, a remote box opener for industrial-sized seed boxes.
Sheldon Barrett from the University of Florida won second place ($3,000) for his company Cocovana, which developed the patented Coconut Twist, a device that allows users to open coconuts in seconds.
Sam Lukach from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater won third place ($2,000) for his company HUK TV Mounts, a space saving TV mount designed with portability in mind.
Callie Spiros from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago won the People's Choice Award ($500) for her company, Kalí Zoe, which creates pressure point jewelry.
Andrew Glantz from Washington University in St. Louis won a U.Pitch Venture Award ($250) for his company, FoodShare, a mobile app where a meal is donated each time a user dines at one of its partnered restaurants.
Daniel Floyd from Western Michigan University won a U.Pitch Venture Award ($250) for his company, SpeechMasterPro, which created a patented enunciation device used to help improve speech by exercising key mouth muscles.
"U.Pitch is a platform for some of the nation's top collegiate entrepreneurs to take their business ideas to the next level," said Scott Issen, President & CEO, Future Founders. "The competition allowed us to surface rockstar entrepreneurial talent and to connect student entrepreneurs from different universities to one another and to entrepreneurial community at large."
Judges included Shradha Agarwal, Co-Founder & President, ContextMedia; Brian Alink, Chief Operating Officer - Card Partnerships, Capital One; Daymond John, Founder of FUBU, Presidential Ambassador of Global Entrepreneurship and Co-Star of ABC's Shark Tank; Emerson Spartz, CEO, Dose Media (formerly Spartz); Desiree Vargas Wrigley, Founder, GiveForward; Kevin Willer, Partner, Chicago Ventures; and Daniel Yu, Founder & CEO, Reliefwatch and 2014 U.Pitch Winner. Christian Farr, Reporter, NBC 5 News Chicago emceed the event.
U.Pitch is an initiative of the Future Founders Startup program, a dynamic platform to engage, equip and empower collegiate entrepreneurs. The program is funded by Capital One, The Coleman Foundation, The John E. & Jeanne T. Hughes Foundation, Motorola Solutions Foundation, and Accenture.
College entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses and be part of a national or Chicago cohort of the top student leaders and entrepreneurs can apply for our 2016 Fellowship by December 18 at http://futurefounders.com/startup/fellowship/.
About Future Founders
Future Founders is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that believes every youth can become an entrepreneur. We immerse youth in experiences that inspire and empower them to create their own opportunity. We believe this leads to a generation more determined, hopeful and equipped as they engage the future. Since 2005, our programs have served over 30,000 youth. Join us as we empower the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Scott Issen, Future Founders, [email protected]
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SOURCE Future Founders
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