This month, several innovative students will have an opportunity to pitch startup ideas to a panel of judges. Two winners will be selected to receive funding toward receiving a master’s degree in the Texas Tech University College of Media & Communication graduate program while developing their ventures.
The College of Media & Communication’s Student Startup Competition was inspired by the ABC show Shark Tank, in which potential entrepreneurs pitch startups to five big-business leaders. The judges decide if they are willing to invest in the budding ventures presented.
Geoffrey Graybeal, an assistant professor in the college and the competition coordinator, explained the process began in March when students applied. While undergraduate, graduate or former Texas Tech students could choose to work alone or form a team of no more than five members, each team is required to contain at least one student currently enrolled in the college. The next step was submitting a pitch video to be reviewed by a faculty vetting committee. The top four startups chosen will present at the final event.
“It gives students the opportunity, if they have an idea for an innovative media idea or company, to expand on that,” Graybeal said.
The professor outlined pitches could be in the areas of sports media, gaming, social media, digital entertainment, news and information, public advocacy and activism, or e-commerce.
“In the last three or four years, this entrepreneurial ecosystem specifically for media has developed all around the country,” Graybeal said, noting other competitions such as the national Student Startup Madness competition as well as the Scripps Innovation Challenge & International Innovators Cup.
Soon after applying for the Student Startup Competition, students were assigned Texas Tech alumni mentors.
“Say they’re in the gaming area, we’ll pair them with an alum with expertise in gaming,” Graybeal explained.
Graybeal said the qualifying pitches for the event include “Develo,” an online community for gaming developers by Carmen Askerneese, Anna Cordaro, Casey Smith and Garrett Wright; “Chewsit,” an online meal and recipe delivery service, pitched by Jessica Castro, Mikalah Knight, Wesley Metter, Olivia Sikora and Sarah Monroe; “Chronovos,” an online community collecting and archiving people’s memories of historical events, headed by Ben Jarvis and Abigail Arroyos; and “Raza,” an app to engage young Hispanics in the 2016 presidential election from sole proprietor Noelle Vela.
A panel of judges will consist of faculty and entrepreneurial alumni, such as Mat Threadgill of the Standing Dog Interactive marketing company.
The final event will be held April 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Matador Room of the Student Union Building.
About Allison Terry
