Tossing Their Best Pitches

By Rachael Kosinski ‘18

Asian carp, tourist attractions and social media innovations caught judges’ attention at the Fall Brave Pitch competition.

The competition gave students an opportunity to make their best elevator pitches for creative entrepreneurship ideas. The winner, entrepreneurship major Patrick Caplis ‘16 of Chillicothe, Illinois, proposed a process to make Asian carp into a food additive protein.

He received a $250 cash prize and an invitation to attend the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization annual convention.

Hospitality leadership major Kelly Beal ‘16 of Peoria, finished second with an idea to build five tiny house bed and breakfast facilities as a tourist attraction. The third-place finisher, English major Bryce Schwerbrock ’18, of Kewanee, Illinois, pitched a social media site that would build community among video gamers.

“I was completely shocked I placed,” Beal said. “Because I’m graduating soon, I’m anxious about what is next for me, so I wanted to see if this idea is something I should pursue.”

Students faced a panel of judges that included Brian Ford, CEO of Facet Technologies, business attorney Brian Johnson, and Michael Rebello, director of mobile product development at NEXMachine.