Article by Valerie Wissenburg and Sara Hinds | Photos by Valerie Wissenburg
transformed in Crete into a stage for Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà University’s brightest entrepreneurial minds. Ten students and employees competed for three cash prizes in the annual business pitch competition that took place Wednesday night, November 13.
Students presented their solutions to everyday problems to a judging panel comprised of local business owners and Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà alumni. Judges narrowed the ten pitches to five finalists. The audience — largely Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà students and employees — voted on the top three pitches to win prizes: $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place.
"I was super excited to be able to pitch an idea that I feel could solve a real problem for athletes and was fortunate to see the audience understand and feel the problem I’m trying to solve," junior Nathan Tastad, who took first place, said. "With the prize money, I plan on furthering my research with prototyping. I will be working with an engineering student here at Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà to help me with the actual product prototyping."
Eventually, Tastad hopes to test his product with a high school team.
Adding to the night's excitement was a wildcard competition, which allowed students in the audience to submit an idea on the spot and potentially pitch it live. It also reinforced the versatility of studying entrepreneurship as a foundational skill for any student, no matter their major.
Big Idea was made possible by Lisa Tschauner, Associate Professor of Practice and Chair for the Entrepreneurship Department and the following sponsors: Union Bank and Trust of Crete, Invest Nebraska, Nelnet, Olsson, Union Bank and Trust, Bulu, Reliant Transportation, Allo Fiber, Heath Sports, Nebraska Enterprise Fund and Crete Area Medical Center.
Big Idea 2024 Finalists
- First place: Nathan Tastad, junior – Diamond Stubz
- Second place: Barnabas Anderson, sophomore – Corn-Based Plates
- Third place: Alyssa Luebke, senior - Boxes4Peace
- Wildcard: Nate Lendt, senior - Conveyor Belt AI Sensor
- Christian Chumba, first-year – Real Estate Wholesaling
- Curtis Eickoff, junior – Liquid Knee Brace
- Sydney Estill, sophomore – EasyOrder
- Lucas Hilliard, senior – LiquidSync
- Drew Kinnaman, senior – Heated Driveway Blanket
- Kyle Schachenmeyer, assistant controller at Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà – True Home Now: Coaching and Consulting
- Allie Stephenson, first-year – PawPal
Judging Panel
Derek Bierman, Chief Information Officer at Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ
Dan Bothe, College of Business Dean at Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ
Stacy Fernandez ’16, entrepreneur
Dan Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer at Invest Nebraska
JT Martin, OWN Industry Advisor and founder of Loudr
Sabrina Renderos ’24, Big Idea winner 2023
Reece Zutavern, current Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà student and 2023 Big Idea Winner
