Winners Announced for Business Pitch Competitions

Amine Saoud (middle) accepts the prize for first place in the Bulldog B.I.T.E. competition from University President Sue Thomas and Charles Hunsaker, associate vice president for University advancement.

More than 80 high school and college students participated in the Bulldog B.I.T.E. and Bulldog Pitch Day competitions. 

The top six pitches in each competition advanced to the finals that took place on campus, Nov. 13. Finalists pitched their concept or idea for a product or service to a panel of judges for the chance to win a portion of the $7,000 in financial awards that were available. Pitches were limited to two minutes with a question-and-answer session of four minutes.

Bulldog B.I.T.E. received 29 qualifying round submissions from a total of 42 students. The video pitches were scored by alumni judges to narrow the field to the six finalists.

Senior Amine Saoud won first place in the Bulldog B.I.T.E. competition for his “Aero Flow” concept, which offers a gamified breathing treatment device to help asthmatic individuals, earning an the top award of $3,000.

Senior Aiden Roberts placed second and received an award of $2,000 for his business concept “Bear Scrub,” a product designed to help individuals wash hard-to-reach areas of their body. 

Freshmen Chase Haustein placed third for his concept “UNI Trades,” an app designed to allow college students to trade skills and services using a token-based system instead of cash.

Bulldog Pitch Day had 79 pitches submitted by students participating from six local high schools: Brunswick, Grundy, Higbee, Kirksville Area Technical Center, Monroe City and Paris.

Sean James from Kirksville Area Technical Center won first place and received a $500 award for his pitch for a product called “Flare Pocket” a small, battery powered hand-warming device.

Paisley Weldon from Monroe City placed second and received a $300 award for her business concept “Mare Care,” a horse harness outfitted with sensors designed to send a horse’s vitals to owners through an app providing to allow for faster medical attention.

Serenity Fishbeck and Audrey Rodeghero from Monroe City placed third and received a $200 award for their concept “Silent Heels,” a cushioned product designed to remove the loud clicking sound that comes with wearing high heels.

These competitions were made possible through the Villhard Innovation Fund and the Lt. Gen. Shien Min Ku and Shih Chin Ku Entrepreneurship Fund at Truman. These funds were created through the  generosity of Truman alumni Doug (’94) and Diane (’95) Villhard and Stella Chakiris (’73) and continue to be supported by many Truman alumni and friends.

For more information about this year’s competition, when available, visit bulldogbite.truman.edu/winners.