LSU construction management major Peter Palma took top prize at the Student Pitch Competition held on campus Tuesday evening with his idea for a gun-magazine-shaped rifle cleaning kit for military use.
“I’ve been making pitches unbeknownst to me for some time now. People ask about my product and in essence you are giving them a small pitch, and it really helped me to focus on what’s important and what’s not,” says Palma, who is from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. “It was great to do the 90-second competition because you give the distilled version of what’s needed, and from there if they want to ask questions, I have the answers to those.”
The Student Pitch Competition, held in conjunction with Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week, was presented by the Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute, along with the Louisiana Business and Technology Center Student Incubator and Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization at LSU.
Taking second place during the competition was electrical engineering major Vilien Gomez of White Castle, who pitched a tailgating service. John Mehall, an information systems and decision sciences major from Detroit, took third place with his idea for a parking app for use by college students and sports fans.
In total, 17 LSU students signed up to pitch their business ideas to the three judges: Michael Banks, undergraduate adviser for general business in the E.J. Ourso College of Business; Lisa Traina, CPA and owner of Traina & Associates; and Thomas Cotton, CPA and business development consultant.
“The competition went very well, and all the students did a terrific job with their presentations,” SEI Interim Director and LSU Executive Education Director Robin Kistler says. “One of the most important things that this kind of event does is help to build the entrepreneurial community within LSU and also introduce LSU students to the business community that can help them succeed.”
BREW events continue at LSU on Friday, with a Breakfast to Business event featuring local entrepreneurs Monique Breaux of POSH Exclusive Interiors, William McGehee of Tin Roof Brewing Co., Caryn Roland of Heirloom Cuisine, and Kolby Tullier of Body Mechanics Training. The breakfast will be held in room 1420 of the LSU Business Education Complex from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Seating is limited, and prior registration is encouraged. Cost is $25. RSVP to attend. —Steve Sanoski
