The Charger Blog
The Pompea College of BusinessӰԭ third annual Smerd Pitch Competition showcased student innovation and collaboration, inspiring creativity and transformative ideas.
November 26, 2024
The Smerd Pitch Competition's an annual competition for aspiring entrepreneurs at the University of New Haven, bringing together students to pitch to a panel of industry experts. For Judith O. Atalor Ӱԭ25 MBA and Mary O. Kakulu Ӱԭ25 MBA, this yearӰԭs first-place winners, the experience was transformative, sparking new possibilities for their startup ToGen.
ӰԭWhen we came to the U.S. as international students, we realized how much there was to learn about the financial system here,Ӱԭ said Atalor. ӰԭUnfortunately, some students we knew made costly mistakes. That inspired us to create a platform that simplifies financial wellness for international students, tailored to their unique needs.Ӱԭ
Their pitch, focused on financial education, resonated with the judges for its clarity and potential impact. ӰԭWinning the competition wasnӰԭt just a validation of our idea; it was a step forward in making ToGen a reality,Ӱԭ Kakulu explained.
The SMERD competition, now in its third year, also emphasized collaboration and mentorship.
ӰԭOne of the standout moments was seeing last yearӰԭs winner, Tomiloba Shokunbi Ӱԭ23 MBA, mentoring this yearӰԭs participants,Ӱԭ said Vasiliki Kosmidou, Ph.D., Smerd Family Associate Professor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Pompea College of Business and the competitionӰԭs lead organizer. ӰԭIt created a peer-to-peer connection that perfectly embodies the spirit of Smerd Competition.Ӱԭ
Preparation for the Smerd Pitch Competition is rigorous. Students participated in five workshops led by faculty and industry professionals, focusing on skills such as competitive analysis, marketing, and financial planning. For Atalor and Kakulu, these sessions were instrumental in refining their pitch.
ӰԭConsistent practice is key,Ӱԭ said Kakulu. ӰԭThe workshops gave us a framework to present our ideas clearly, and the feedback we received helped us develop a compelling narrative.Ӱԭ
Dr. Kosmidou praised this yearӰԭs participants for their adaptability. ӰԭDuring the grand finals, judges asked challenging questions,Ӱԭ she said. Instead of faltering, teams pivoted on the spot, demonstrating resilience and creativityӰԭqualities critical for entrepreneurial success.Ӱԭ
Chiamaka O. John Ӱԭ25 MBA, the second-place winner and crowd favorite with Wenigro Power, shared a similar sentiment. ӰԭBalancing technical details with simplicity was challenging,Ӱԭ said John. ӰԭWe had to refine our pitch to resonate with a broad audience, which taught us the importance of clear communication.Ӱԭ
This adaptability was a highlight for both students and mentors. ӰԭSeeing students take feedback and improve in real-time was incredibly inspiring,Ӱԭ Dr. Kosmidou said.
The winning teams stood out for their clairty, preparation, and storytelling. Judges were impressed with their clear go-to-market strategies and their ability to communicate value effectively.
For Atalor and Kakulu, the most memorable moment was hearing their business name announced as the winner. ӰԭIt was surreal,Ӱԭ said Atalor. ӰԭThe journey from brainstorming to pitching in the finals taught us so much about resilience and teamwork.Ӱԭ
John, whose pitch focused on smarter energy management, highlighted the power of mentorship and collaboration. ӰԭThe and Professor Kosmidou were instrumental in refining our presentation,Ӱԭ she said. Their encouragement gave us the confidence to share our vision.Ӱԭ
Dr. Kosmidou emphasized the long-term benefits of the competition. ӰԭItӰԭs not just about winning,Ӱԭ she said. ӰԭItӰԭs about building skills such as communication, networking, and the ability to adaptӰԭskills that will serve students in their entrepreneurial careers.Ӱԭ
For ToGen, the next step is developing a fully operational platform to support incoming international students. ӰԭWe believe ToGen can be an invaluable tool,Ӱԭ said Kakulu. ӰԭWeӰԭre excited to make it a reality.Ӱԭ
John plans to continue developing Wenigro PowerӰԭs energy solutions. ӰԭThis is just the beginning,Ӱԭ she said. ӰԭThe competition validated our ideas and gave us the tools to move forward.Ӱԭ
Reflecting on the competitionӰԭs impact, Dr. Kosmidou said, ӰԭI am incredibly proud of our students. Their hard work and determination show that the entrepreneurial spirit is thriving at the University of New Haven.Ӱԭ
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