On Nov. 7, 2024, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at the University of Mississippi hosted the “Servin’ the South” Business Model Competition. CIE empowers students to create innovative businesses through top-tier education, experiential learning, and renowned research. Offering major and minor entrepreneurship programs, CIE has supported over 65 student ventures, advised more than 838 students, and seen 535 student teams participate in business competitions since 2018. With nearly 25% of participants receiving funding, the CIE has awarded over $357,300 in cash prizes and $89,000 in scholarships, fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs.
This pitch competition was open to every university student in the country, taking place in-person at the Jackson Avenue Center. Pitch competitions serve as a platform for entrepreneurs to validate their ideas, access funding, network with industry professionals, gain exposure, and foster personal growth. These events play a crucial role in the startup ecosystem, providing opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and success.
Colleges and universities from around the mid-south were invited to have their best student teams to compete for the top prize of $10,000. Each team had the opportunity to present their business model in front of a panel of diverse judges.
Ole Miss invited 60 higher-education institutions throughout Mississippi, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Alabama.
The University of Kentucky was represented by student founder and Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Accelerator graduate, Wyatt Hench. Wyatt pitched his startup, HelperHat, which seeks to create better organization for everyday tools in the garage. Wyatt is an undergraduate student seeking his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Stanely & Karen Pigman College of Engineering.
"The Servin’ the South competition was an incredible opportunity to pitch HelperHat and connect with other student innovators and judges. It was fun, inspiring, and a great way to grow as an entrepreneur." - Wyatt Hench, Founder of HelperHat
"Wyatt continues to progress down the entrepreneurial path with his HelperHat idea. His tenacity and hard work is starting to pay off.” - Warren Nash, Executive Director of The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship, Gatton College of Business & Economics
Competition Highlights:
Preliminary Round: Student teams will pitch their business models in front of judges. Each team will receive 5 minutes for their presentation, followed by a 5-minute Q&A.
Final Round: Six teams will advance to compete for the top Prize, and winners will be announced on the day of the event.
Prizes:
Grand Prize: $10,000
Second Prize: $5,000
Four additional finalists: $1,000 each
Special Prizes: Including Best Visiting Team ($2,500) and Best Technology Utilization/Development ($4,000).
In addition to the prize money, top-performing University of Mississippi teams will gain automatic entry into the Gillespie Business Plan Competition in the spring.