Carter Berens (left), winner of Best Overall Pitch, poses with Nate Green of Renewable Energy Group (right).
Students took home $1,400 in prizes at the second annual Innovation Pitch Competition April 9 at the Delta Upsilon Fraternity on the Iowa State University campus.
Hosted by the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Learning Community, the event provided thirty-one students, ranging from freshmen to graduate students, an opportunity to sharpen their entrepreneurial pitch skills.
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Silicon Prairie News’ Geoff Wood served as one of the competition’s judges, along with Proplanner‘s founder and CEO Dave Sly, Cozette Rosburg of Becker Underwood and Steve Goodhue, owner of Knapp Tedesco Insurance.
A number of the student awards were sponsored, meaning recipients took home a cash prize. Students received awards in the following categories:
- Best Overall Pitch ($500): Carter Berens, Iowa State University senior — Hands to Leather
- Best New Innovation ($300): Aaron Swailes, Iowa State University senior — Quick Dual
- Best New Business Idea ($300): Jack Houston, Iowa State University junior — I Coach Now
- Best New Social Entrepreneurship Venture ($300): Bernardo del Campo, Iowa State University graduate student — Biochar
- Audience Choice: Jared Beymer, Iowa State University freshman — Desk Jockey
