The University of Kentucky Entrepreneurship Club hosted their Startup Pitch Competition on Thursday, November 14th at 5PM in Woodward Hall, Gatton College of Business & Economics. The event featured 6 participants with 5 judges compiled of local entrepreneurs and leaders. A prize pool of $1,000 was awarded by the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) to fund 3 winners.
"Our pitch competition was a great opportunity for eClub to connect with student entrepreneurs studying and working in various fields. It was a pleasure to be work with VACE to support the participants with prize funds and feedback from successful entrepreneurs from Lexington. We look forward to future events like the pitch competition that will help inspire and develop all club members and aspiring entrepreneurs at UK!" - Finn McCormack, Entrepreneurship Club Treasurer
“It was great working with the eClub on this pitch competition. This partnership will be producing great results for the UK entrepreneurial community.” - Warren Nash, Executive Director of The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship
- 1st place ($500): "FlowTech", the innovative blood flow and oxygen monitoring technology led by Faezeh Akbari, Fatemeh Hamedi, and Pegah Safavi! All team members are PhD candidates that represent the the Department of BioMedical Engineering, Pigman College of Engineering at The University of Kentucky. FlowTech is actively working on their startup and creating their company in the VACE Online Bootcamp Accelerator.
- 2nd place ($300): "DocAI", the startup that's revolutionizing patient discharge with innovative video technology led by siblings, Sarisha Lohano with Dushant Lohano! Sarisha Lohano is a Lewis Honors College undergraduate student, pursuing medicine in the College of Medicine at the University of Kentucky. Dushant Lohano is a high school student at Phillips Exeter Academy. DocAI is actively working on their startup and creating their company in the VACE Online Bootcamp Accelerator.
- 3rd place ($200): "HelperHat", the hat with hands-free help when you need it, led by Wyatt Hench! Wyatt is a Mechanical Engineering undergraduate student at the Pigman College of Engineering, University of Kentucky. HelperHat is a graduate of the VACE Online Bootcamp Accelerator.
Honorable mentions:
- "Sapphire", A modern Lesbian dating platform, where they put a ring on it, led by Timika Scarlett, undergraduate Accounting student in the Gatton College of Business & Economics.
- "PRLZ", Cannabis extract you can trust! Led by Eli Gersony with Avery Nelson and Venky Suryadevara. Avery is pursuing his undergraduate degree in Economics at the Gatton College of Business & Economics. Venky is pursuing his undergraduate degree in Accounting & Finance at the Gatton College of Business & Economics.
- "PillBox", A smart dispensing pill box for semi-dependent patients, led by Finn McCormack. Finn is an undergraduate student pursuing a dual degree in Finance & Management at the Gatton College of Business & Economics.
Get Involved!
To get involved with the Entrepreneurship Club, connect with the club officers today! Also, Follow the eClub on Instagram!
President | Andrew Jacobs | andrew.jacobs@uky.edu
- Andrew is a junior from Charleston, WV, studying management and marketing. Andrew joined eClub in 2023 and has since taken the position of President in April 2024.
Vice President | Muhammad Qasim | muhammad.qasim@uky.edu
- Qasim is a PhD candidate from Pakistan studying computer science. Qasim joined eClub in 2023 and has since taken the position of Vice President in April 2024.
Events Coordinator | Benjamin Jacobs | BSJ62005@uky.edu
- Benjamin is a sophomore from Charleston, WV, studying managment. Ben joined eClub in 2023 and has since taken the position of Events Coordinator in April 2024.
Treasurer | Finn McCormack | fmccormack@uky.edu
- Finn is a freshman from Valparaiso, IN, studying finance and management. Finn joined eClub and was elected as treasurer in September 2024.
Marketing Chair | Ella Holliday | emho260@uky.edu
- Ella is a Sophomore from Bloomington, IL, studying marketing and management. Ella joined eClub in 2023 and has since taken the position of Marketing Chair in April 2024.