As a second-year business student at the UNC Pembroke (UNCP), Gabby Hyson, who is also a university swimmer, could not help but notice the effects chlorine had on her hair. After struggling to maintain her hair, she came up with the idea to develop a line of cosmetic and hair care products designed specifically for swimmers, named Symone’s. This genius concept eventually got her the winning prize at the very first Braves Pitch-a-thon which was sponsored by the university’s Thomas College of Business and economics.
However, this victory did not come easy. She had a 90-second timeframe to present her business idea to a judging panel that included 16 competitors. She recalls being very nervous, but the reward of sharing her unique idea and facing the audience was certainly the most rewarding part of it all.
The competition was not limited to personal physical presentations as there was also an option to participate in the competition virtually. Despite this, Nelysa Rosario, an online business student who resides two hours away from the university chose to make the journey in order to pitch her idea in person. She was of the opinion that face-to-face meetings enhanced engagement and rapport, hence facilitating a better overall presentation. Rosario, a junior, proposed the development of an on-demand lawn care business, similar to food delivery service DoorDash. This idea earned her a commendable second-place position in the contest.
In third place was Yogesh Sharma. He is a junior finance major originally from India. Sharma’s unique proposal and engaging presentation impressed the panel and helped him secure this position.
With her victory, Hyson advances to the College Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) Global Pitch Competition taking place in Tampa, Florida from the 31st of October to the 2nd of November. She has the chance of winning a share of a $20,000 prize pool at this competition.
A CEO chapter for UNCP was recently established, which has sparked a lot of interest from students in different disciplines. In fact, half of the Braves Pitch-a-thon competitors are active members of this CEO club. According to faculty advisor Dr. Caroline Glackin, pitching competitions provide students with invaluable hands-on experience. They get to apply the concepts they learn in class to practical real-world challenges and solution development. The competitions also equip them with skills such as public speaking, persuasive speech, clear conveyance of ideas, and boost their confidence when presenting concepts to individuals outside their usual circle of communication.
Experts encourage such challenges as they foster a healthy competitive environment that promotes business ideas and network building among students. Faculty members also have the opportunity to observe the variety of ideas students have for start-ups and offer guidance through mentorships.
Alfredo Irra, a UNCP graduate and small business owner, was one of the judges. He was quite impressed with the uniqueness of Hyson’s idea. He believed her personal connection to the proposed hair care product boosted her score in the pitching. A sentiment he shared was that when the business proposal is focused on a problem directly affecting the presenter, the feeling of appeal is heightened greatly. A relatability factor is created which shows the presenter is more engaged, and has done extensive research to make the business successful.
Irra ended with reiterating the immense value of getting experiences from participating in competitions like this. He said that whether a participant wins or loses, there’s an invaluable lesson to be learned from each pitch made, and these insights can serve as a guide on how to improve.
