Students transformed ideas into business ventures during Roberts Wesleyan University's first annual Business Pitch Competition, an initiative designed to cultivate entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership while connecting aspiring business owners with experienced mentors and industry professionals.

Open to all Roberts students, the competition challenged participants to develop business concepts with real-world market potential and present them before a panel of business and university leaders. Throughout the spring semester, students refined their ideas through a seven-week mentorship program led by Roberts faculty.

"The goal of the competition is to encourage innovation and leadership through free enterprise," said Dr. Fanle Wei, assistant professor of economics and finance and coordinator of the Roberts Pitch Competition. "We know many of our students already have entrepreneurial ideas or small businesses. This competition gives them the opportunity to strengthen those ideas, receive meaningful feedback, and connect with mentors who can help them grow."

Judges evaluated each presentation using criteria that measured problem identification, market opportunity, financial feasibility, innovation, execution strategy, presentation quality, and the integration of faith into business practices.

The judging panel included Interim President Terry R. Taber, Interim Chief Operating Officer Kip Palmer, Senior Associate for Career Strategy and Experiential Learning Kathleen D. Raniewicz, Graduate Business Professor Dr. Carly McCabe, Financial Advisor Rudy Diedreck of Edward Jones, and Nat Harrington, owner of Nat's Nuts.

Made possible through funding from the Hoselton Project, the competition awarded $8,500 in prize funding along with continued faculty consultation to help students move their ventures forward. Prize funds are distributed as teams achieve milestones outlined in their business plans, encouraging long-term growth beyond the competition itself.

This year's winners included:

First Place: Bloomed & Borrowed Co., created by Julia Guy, a Rochester-based wedding décor rental and styling company offering couples a seamless, full-service design experience.

Second Place: Flow, developed by Ayemele Teouaba Ange Paulin and Kate Kronbeck, a credential-aware scheduling platform for mid-sized hospitals that verifies staff availability, qualifications, and safety requirements before schedules are finalized.

Second Place: Student Grid, created by Riley O'Neil, an all-in-one platform designed to help students manage campus life.

People's Choice Award: Blazing Tongue Hot Sauce, developed by Luke Herbert, featuring unique flavors designed to stand out in the specialty hot sauce market.

Beyond prize funding, finalists gained valuable experience presenting their ideas, receiving professional feedback, and building relationships with mentors and business leaders.

"We hope this becomes a lasting Roberts tradition," said Interim President Terry R. Taber during the event.

The competition reflects Roberts Wesleyan University's commitment to preparing students not only with business knowledge but also with the confidence, creativity, and character to make meaningful contributions in their professions and communities. By combining mentorship, experiential learning, and faith-informed entrepreneurship, the Business Pitch Competition provides students with practical tools to transform innovative ideas into sustainable ventures.

Organizers plan to continue the Business Pitch Competition annually, creating new opportunities for Roberts students to develop entrepreneurial skills while strengthening connections between the university, alumni, and the regional business community.