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The 2023 Fowler Business Concept Challenge (FBCC), organized by the Knauss School of Business’ Entrepreneurship and Innovation Catalyzer, marked a momentous celebration of innovation and creativity at the University of San Diego. With 15 semi-finalist teams presenting groundbreaking ideas to an audience of over 350 people, the event exemplified the entrepreneurial prowess and commitment to addressing real-world problems.
View photos from the event:
This year’s FBCC set a new record with 76 business concept submissions during the preliminary application round, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for entrepreneurial ventures across USD’s diverse academic landscape. Faculty mentors and staff from various schools, centers, and disciplines played a crucial role, offering unwavering support and advice to the semi-finalists in the weeks leading up to the finalist challenge.
Following a day of full-length pitches, the culminating Awards Ceremony provided students with the opportunity to present their ideas to the public, earning the chance to secure a People’s Choice Award based on the audience’s vote. The four finalist teams, selected by our esteemed finalist judges, vied for an additional portion of the $45,000 scholarship award fund.
Stealing the spotlight and winning the grand prize was JuniorJobHunt, co-created by the dynamic duo of Ethan Andrews and Brennan Martin, first-year undergraduate students from the Knauss School of Business. Their concept not only demonstrated ingenuity but also addressed a critical need in the market, earning them the prestigious title of the 2023 Fowler Business Concept Challenge champions.
The third runner-up award of $3,000 went to Aashika Arasu, Alison Lynch and Josh Moreno, creators of UPKEEP, an app to streamline home repair services. Graduate students Emanuele Davide, Michael DeLouceur, and Natalie Muth secured the second runner up award of $5,000 for their business concept, NAMIO, a comprehensive program focused on childhood obesity management. The $7,500 first runner-up scholarship went to the team of four undergraduates from the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, Derek Johnson, Josh Corvi, Mitch Seto, and Noah Schliesman, for their concept, LiftSwitch, a snowboard lock and pivot system featuring IMU positioning technology.
The excitement continued with the announcement of the People’s Choice Award winners this morning. Lift Switch secured 43% of the vote and a $1,300 award, while Tonic on Tap and BattleRevive each earned 28.5% of the vote, winning $850 each.
Reflecting on their FBCC experience, Brennan Martin shared, “Pitching JuniorJobHunt at the FBCC was an unforgettable and incredible experience! Presenting to the panel of incredible judges and receiving advice from their decades of experience was invaluable. We hope to move forward with JJH using everything we have learned competing in the FBCC and the incredible people we have met to make this platform everything that we know it can be.”
The forward-thinking concepts presented by the fifteen semi-finalist teams highlighted the diversity and creativity of USD’s entrepreneurial community. From AdMiles, transforming personal cars into mobile billboards, to Buni AI’s commitment to cultivating African tech talent, the spectrum of innovation was awe-inspiring.
In his opening remarks, Faculty Director Dr. Amit Kakkad shared, “The judges informed [him] that the business concept presentations this year were of the highest caliber they have ever seen at the Fowler Business Concept Challenge.” Both judges and the audience acknowledged the difficulty in selecting their top contestants.
In agreement, Andrew Fowler, one of FBCC’s semi-finalist judges and Vice President of Investments & Strategy at Liquid Investments, expressed, “It was really fun to see the students tackle real-world problems with such entrepreneurial spirit and energy – on behalf of all the judges, thank you to the students and the USD faculty and staff for all their hard work!”
This year’s event was yet another reminder of the hope and ingenuity of USD students. As the University of San Diego continues to nurture and empower the next generation of business leaders, the Fowler Business Concept Challenge remains a beacon of innovation and a platform for turning visionary concepts into reality.
— Théa Klement
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