Congratulations to Becky Holden for winning the Big Idea Kearney Fall 2024 live pitch competition with Kaizen Design, software that will help healthcare providers build better spaces for patients and employees. Becky won the $5,000 prize for first place.
UNK graduate student Aaron Osmond won the $1,000 prize for second place with his pitch for AutoCallCam, a product that will automate line calling for smaller soccer, tennis, and pickleball competitions.
UNK student Madeline Rose won the $500 prize for third place with her pitch for Seasonal Scoops, a homemade pumpkin ice cream.
Read the live event story by Tyler Ellyson with UNK News!
Live Pitch Event
On November 6, 2024, ten talented entrepreneurs pitched their unique business ideas live at Legacy on the Bricks in downtown Kearney. The finalists for the Fall 2024 Big Idea Kearney were (in alphabetical order):
Remi Daumas and Jon Oberg - SwitchCaps
Becky Holden – Kaizen Design
Brandon Minkler – Campus Swap
Aaron Osmond – AutoCallCam
Hser Paw – Ramen in Convenience Store
Madeline Rose – Seasonal Scoops
Courtney Swisher – Holme's Escape Room
Blaine Tewahade – Dorm Drapes
Cody Tucker – Self-Improving Computer Operating System
About Big Idea
Spearheaded by the Center for Entrepreneurship & Rural Development at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the competition is designed to foster and showcase the innovative business and product ideas emerging from our talented pool of UNK students and the Kearney area community.
Ideas are submitted in advance, narrowed down to a group of finalists, and pitched LIVE in front of an audience and panel of judges. The audience participates in selecting the Big Idea winners. Pitches are 2 minutes or less and followed by a Q&A.
Top ideas win access and discounts to key resources, business coaching and planning services, and startup money to launch their business in Kearney!
The contest is open to UNK students and Kearney area community members. Participants under 19 years of age will require parental consent.
Prizes
The top 10 finalists, as determined by our panel of expert judges, presented their ideas during a live pitch event on November 6th at Legacy on the Bricks in downtown Kearney. Cash prizes of $5,000, $1,000, and $500 were awarded for first, second, and third places respectively to the live pitch winners. All finalists received a prize, including gift bags, access to professional services, and startup cash! Plus, the networking and connections received at this event are invaluable.
Event Sponsors
Event sponsors support Big Idea Kearney and make pitch night possible. Thank you to these sponsors for elevating the event for Big Idea. Email Sara at bennettsa2@unk.edu to become an Event Sponsor.
Professional Partners
Professional Partners are committing free or discounted services to the Top 5 finalists. These services can include, but are not limited to the following: business planning, legal, accounting, marketing, insurance, and branding & design. For paid services, we will limit professional partners to one business per industry. When you become a Professional Partner, you are offering free and discounted services to the Top 5 only, but we will recommend your services to all Big Idea Kearney finalists. Email Sara at bennettsa2@unk.edu to become a Professional Partner.
Congratulations to the Spring 2024 Big Idea Contest winners!
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First Place: Alexis Bernthal with Physpeak
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Second Place: Zion Moyer with Roaming Greens Mini Golf
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Third Place: Jessica Vettel with Create Wildly
View a Highlight Reel from the Spring 2024 Event
Contact
Sara Bennett
Director, Center for Entrepreneurship & Rural Development
bennettsa2@unk.edu
308-865-8199
