Bradley Students Compete in 9th Annual Project Springboard Competition

By Lindsay Anderson

The annual Project Springboard New Venture Competition set Bradley students in CEO’s chairs as they brainstormed and pitched ideas for new startup businesses. Ideas ranged from clothing services to efficient food carriers.

Entrepreneurship major Ethan Hartter ‘18, of Deer Creek, Illinois, won the event with his idea of AutoSwash, a product that is aimed at professionals who are looking for a cheaper and more efficient way to clean their professional clothing.

“I was pretty excited when I found out I had won,” Hartter said. “It was really nice to see all of the hard work that I’ve put into the business start to pay off.”

Chardeney Mason ‘15, a communications major from Chicago, Illinois, presented her idea of Shoe Closet, a company that would rent trendy, comfortable and affordable shoes to women for special events.

“I’ve always wanted to start my own business, coming from a family of entrepreneurs,” Mason said. “I learned from my dad and applied that to what I liked and wanted to pursue. My favorite part of the competition was the presentation. It was an exciting accomplishment and a success to have it all come together.”

Tom Hornstein ’15, an international business major from Pekin, Illinois, promoted his idea of a new app titled Bartapp. The app would allow people to find areas around them to go and get a drink and also where those drinks would be least expensive.

Paul Majerczyk ‘17, a mechanical engineering major from Darien, Illinois, and Ryan John ‘17, an industrial engineering major from Bartlett, Illinois, also promoted their idea of Bagboy, a click and carry device to provide consumers a more efficient and comfortable way to carry more groceries.

“This is the ultimate experiential learning opportunity,” said Project Springboard Director Amy Fairfield Doering.  “The students experience how much work goes into developing business ideas. The feedback the students receive is invaluable. It helps them move on to the next step in the business development process.”