More than 30 high school and college students participated in the second annual MECA Challenge.
KANSAS CITY—Students partnered with local Kansas City startup FitBark took home top prize Oct. 5 at the second annual MECA Challenge.
MECA Challenge is Kansas City’s Student Innovation Competition, where students connect with real startups to solve business problems and gain exposure to the world of entrepreneurship.
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“It’s always fun to see the students presenting their solutions in front of a crowd. Honestly, it’s great, real-world experience for them to present in that manner, and they always rise to the challenge,” said Adam Arredondo, one of the event’s organizers, in a press release. “I think we were all impressed by what the teams put together this year.”
The team created an affiliated marketing plan for the startup, which sells hardware that acts as a FitBit for your dog, to help get dog walkers and doggy daycares to re-sell FitBarks to their respective communities.
For their work, the group will receive tickets to watch a Sporting KC game in a suite with Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Mark Holland, a copy of Diana Kanders’ book “All in Startup” and more.
More than 150 people, including family, friends and community members, gathered at the Alamo Drafthouse Oct. 5 to hear the more than 30 high school and college students present the projects they’d been working on over the course of the MECA Challenge’s three days.
Local startups Knoda, Leap.it, Little Hoots, VeriQuik and SquareOffs also participated in this year’s MECA Challenge, pairing up with groups of students to help solve real-world problems each is currently facing.
