Finalists Vie in 'Rise to the Challenge' Competition, May 3
April 12, 2017
Contact: Public Affairs
Phone: 410.837.5739
Seven University of Baltimore students have been selected as finalists in the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation's fourth annual "Rise to the Challenge" Pitch Competition, an opportunity to show off new ideas and concepts for businesses before an audience of consumers and entrepreneurial experts. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 3 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the M. Scot Kaufman Auditorium in UB's William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center (home of the Merrick School of Business), 11 W. Mt. Royal Ave. The event is free and open to the public; an R.S.V.P. is required. Details are listed below.
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Merrick School of Business has selected five undergraduate students and three graduate students to compete for cash and in-kind professional services at this year's competition. Judges representing the local business community will join UB experts in selecting the winner.
John Zuknick, MBA, '14, B.S. '12, manager of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, says that this year's "Rise to the Challenge" has two categories for the finalists: aspiring business ventures and existing business ventures.
"It's amazing to watch our students go from having an idea for a business, to launching it and then growing it,” Zuknick says. "It's been rewarding to see our student entrepreneurs' successes. Every year we look forward to seeing the new crop of business ideas in the aspiring business category. The University of Baltimore was built by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, and the CEI plays a significant role in this effort."
The finalists and their businesses are:
Aspiring Business Ventures
- Brittany DeNovellis, a candidate in the M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Social Entrepreneur program
Team/Submission Name: Project Kitchen X
- Brian Kochesfahani, B.S. in Business Administration major
Team/Submission Name: BLOX by Brian Kochesfahani
- Kelsey Griffin, Lucas Wooleyhand, Cristian Villalobos, all B.S in Simulation and Digital Entertainment majors
Team/Submission Name: Coverstone Studios
Existing Business Ventures
- Hiba Mohammad, B.S. in Business Administration major
Team/Submission Name: Asli
- Ryan Schuman, a candidate in the MBA program
Team/Submission Name: PlayMore Entertainment, LLC
- Mustafa Wahid, a candidate in the MBA program
Team/Submission Name: TransitioningU
- Shane Yeager, B.S. in Business Administration major
Team/Submission Name: ShortKlips
Send an R.S.V.P. for the 2017 Rise to the Challenge event.
Read more about entrepreneurship at the University of Baltimore in Technical.ly Baltimore.
Learn more about the Merrick School of Business.