School of Business Announces Five Winners of Elevator Pitch Competition

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2021 Elevator Pitch Competition

ATLANTA/MACON – Mercer University’s Stetson-Hatcher School of Business awarded a total of $2,500 in prize money for five unique business ideas presented during its Elevator Pitch Competition held Feb. 26 via Zoom.

The competition, open to all students on all Mercer campuses, included 23 individuals or teams who each presented a two-minute pitch.

“I am very proud of our student competitors as they presented innovative ideas in a professional manner,” said Dr. Briana Stenard, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship. “It was a great competition, and it was even difficult for the judges to choose winners because of the high caliber of pitches this year.”

Judges selected four recipients of the Judges Choice award, including:

  • Taiyah Lockett, a sophomore computer science major in Macon, and Johan Breglen, a sophomore mechanical engineering major in Macon, who pitched a business that sells diapers/training pants that detect UTIs and other health risks for babies and those with special needs;
  • Gregory Roper, an evening MBA student in Atlanta, who pitched ChoVidz, a consulting company that works with churches, schools and others to help create virtual music media content as an alternative to in-person performances during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond;
  • Jun Ming Li, a full-time MBA student in Atlanta, who pitched the Who’s up? mobile app, which keeps track of the business hours and dining options of restaurants by cutting out the middleman allowing both owners and the customers to more easily stay in touch;
  • Trenton Williams, a senior electrical engineering major in Macon, and Spencer Lowe, a senior environmental engineering major in Macon, who pitched a portable renewable power source with better efficiency and larger capability than comparable products on the current market.

Additionally, judges selected one recipient of the Best Nonprofit Pitch award:

  • Tyrone Harrison, a senior BBA student in Atlanta, who pitched a nonprofit focused on financial literacy, credit, business and entrepreneurship for prisoners, youth and churches.

About the School of Business

Established in 1984, Mercer’s School of Business is named for Eugene W. Stetson, a 1901 Mercer graduate and business pioneer who leveraged the first major buyout in corporate history, and his grandson Robert F. (Bob) Hatcher, a Macon businessman, longtime supporter, trustee and former board chair for the University. 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 in order to develop innovative leaders who are 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 and Online BBA, Full-Time (Day) MBA, Evening MBA, Online MBA, Master of Accountancy, M.S. in Business Analytics), Macon (Traditional BBA, Evening MBA, Health Care MBA, and Innovation MBA), Henry County (Evening BBA). For more information, visit business.mercer.edu.