ATLANTA – Two MBA students and an undergraduate in Mercer University's Stetson School of Business and Economics won three of the top four places in Clayton State University's second annual Elevator Pitch Contest on April 10.
An elevator pitch is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a new business opportunity and its value in the time it would take to complete an elevator ride. These pitches typically last around two minutes.
A total of 18 competitors represented Mercer, Clayton State, Georgia College and State University, and Savannah State University.
Charles Weaving III, an MBA student and professional bicycle racer, won first place for Aeroquick, his vision for a low-cost aerodynamic bike wheel.
Janice McFadden, an undergraduate, finished second for Perfeck Pak, a brand of diapers marketed toward low-income mothers, and Fatimata Aw, an MBA student, finished fourth for Baobab 5000, an anti-aging skincare cosmetic compounded from the fruit of the Baobab tree, which lives for 5,000 years.
Additionally, Andre Jerry, an MBA student who won Mercer's Elevator Pitch Contest last fall, competed with JustBeeCards, his specialty greeting cards that express specific emotions rather than fitting a particular occasion.
A panel of expert judges asked probing “Shark Tank”-style questions to test each entrepreneur's ability to address challenging new business issues under pressure. The judges then provided feedback directly to the competitors. Along with their helpful suggestions, the judges also were highly complementary of Mercer's four students.
“Mercer can be very proud of its winning tradition in this contest. Last year, one student, Candace Eldridge, competed and won second place. This year, our student entrepreneurs once again performed at a high level and learned invaluable lessons,” said Dr. Bob Perkins, associate professor of management, who coached the students. “All of them earned a measure of confidence that will help them pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.”
About the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics
Established in 1984, Mercer University's Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics is named for Eugene W. Stetson, a 1901 Mercer graduate and business pioneer who leveraged the first major buyout in corporate history. Over the past 80 years, Mercer has granted over 12,000 business degrees, and many of its graduates hold senior leadership positions in companies around the world. Mercer's business school delivers career-focused business education programs and develops entrepreneurial leaders and responsible global citizens. It holds accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which places it among the top five percent of all top business schools worldwide. Mercer's business school has been recognized by the Princeton Review for “Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students” and “Greatest Opportunity for Women” as well as being one of its “Best Business Schools.” In addition, it has been recognized among the “Top 15 Schools in the Nation for Marketing and Accounting.”
The School offers the following programs: Atlanta (Evening BBA, Full-Time (One-Year) MBA, Evening MBA, Executive MBA, Professional MBA, Master of Accountancy, M.S. in Business Analytics), Macon (Traditional BBA and Evening MBA), Douglas County and Henry County (Evening BBA). www.mercer.edu/business
