On March 1, future entrepreneurs from the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business got valuable real-world experience in what it would take to launch their own businesses when they competed in the University’s annual Shark Tank-style Business Plan Competition.
Finalists, working individually or in teams, came up with intriguing ideas for projects, then developed business plans and presented their business proposals to a panel of judges, including business leaders and Adelphi faculty members, who provided mentorship and feedback.
“Developing a business plan provides hands-on experience in conducting market research, creating financial projections, and presenting their ideas to judges or even potential investors,” said Murat Erogul, PhD, associate dean of the Adelphi University Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. “With the great help of our mentors and judges, finalists get practical feedback, constructive criticism and guidance to improve their business plans and entrepreneurial skills.”
This year’s winners include:
- First place, $5,000: Campus Trade – Matias Hoyos, Thiago Negrao, Hugo Munoz Reinoso and Casey Recci
- Second place, $3,000: Campbell Postmodern Counseling – Alex Campbell
- Third place, $2,000: Global Link – Viktor Hockl, Thomas Horsley and Marko Jovanovic
- Best Socially Responsible Approach, $1,000: Voice to Vision – Kristen Flores
Hugo Munoz Reinoso is the CTO (chief technology officer) for the first-place business venture Campus Trade. He posted on LinkedIn that he was grateful to his teammates “for their dedication and passion” and gave “a huge thank you to Murat Erogul and Lori Cary for making this competition possible.”
He added, “Participating in events like these inspired me to tackle real-world problems, leading to the development of Campus Trade, our winning solution at the Adelphi Business Competition. Excited for what lies ahead as we continue to innovate and make a tangible impact!”