Gillan’s idea, called “VRtual Playbook,” is a software he created in just three hours that aims to improve sports team development with the use of a virtual reality application. 

“I feel really good. The hard work definitely paid off. I honestly, I came in here with my idea and I was like, I’m going to let it ride and see what happens,” Gillan said. “The plan is to keep growing. Our goal is to start talking to some NBA teams in February 2024 and find some developers, and keep pushing our app forward.”

The second-place winners were juniors Isabel Crabtree and Michael Baird, who earned $6,000 for “TailEnd,” a career-based application to help students curate class schedules and find jobs.

The third-place prize of $4,000 went to senior athlete Sabrina Schlenker, who created the “HairCan,” a trashcan to help keep hair off of shower walls, an idea she came up with in middle school. 

The remaining four finalists received $1,000 each for their business endeavors, an increase from the $500 prizes given last year. Those recipients included graduate student Mikki O’Neal for “Purpose After Sports,” a program for post-student-athletes; junior Jake Fox for “The Cart Chock,” a shopping cart that won’t run into cars; senior trio Melanie Guzman, Mankirat Kaur and Nai-Chun Haung for their “Last Minute Tote,” an all-purpose waterproof bag with a detachable mat; and junior Marshawana Wilson for “Beyond Butta,” an organic body moisturizer that lasts longer than many other lotions. 

“Yeah, we’re in shock. We didn’t even really expect to make top three because just everyone here is so talented and their ideas are great, but it’s an honor, we’re super excited to jumpstart our business,” Crabtree said.

She added that she and Baird were especially thankful for Terry Lowe, director of events at the Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in the College of Business at ISU, and thankful for the startup fund. 

“This is our ISU version of ‘Shark Tank,’ and every year we see student ideas changing and getting more contemporary,” Lowe said, referring to the reality TV series on ABC. “What we have noticed this year is we’re seeing more of the high-tech kind of things that we see on television now. Students are quickly catching up on how to come up with ideas that will be marketable.”

Preparation for the annual event begins as soon as school starts in mid-August. Lowe said they put signs all over the Quad and send out a mass email to generate student interest. Students then submit a three-minute video pitch for consideration.

The initial round of judging takes place in the first two weeks of October, narrowing down 25 students to this year’s seven finalists, who also receive personal coaching before they present at the showcase. 

This year’s judges included Julie Dobski, owner of Little Jewels Learning Center and Rob Dob’s Restaurant; Jennifer McCarron, president and owner of Business Builders Marketing in Bloomington; Scott Nancarrow, global practice director for mergers and acquisitions at Bain & Co.; and Heather Young, owner of OhmFit Activewear in Normal.