Aspiring Student Entrepreneurs Make Their Pitch
November 1, 2024
Eight aspiring entrepreneurs took turns pitching their business ideas to a panel of judges on Nov. 25, 2024, in a Pitch Perfect Competition at Santa Fe College's Blount Hall. At stake was a $500 prize and a six-month membership to the College's business incubator, the Center for Innovation and Economic Development.
The ideas were inspired, ranging in services and opportunities from healthy meal prep to gaming to equine laser therapy and scooter repair.
In the end, Charlotte Leavins, Santa Fe College Health Services Administration, B.A.S. student, took the top prize, earning both the judge's award and the audience vote. She shared a heartfelt story about her journey as a homeless veteran and now a college student, a transition she credits to her interaction with her horse, Pebbles. Her idea was serving veterans in need through equine therapy.
The other competitors, which include Dylan Lough, who earned second place, Yulian Ochoa, third place, Carlos Andres, Ashley Baggett, Lane Thompson, Nicholas Mattia and Kevin Savoi, honed their skills in a series of workshops provided by LaShondra Johnson, Santa Fe College adjust business faculty and CEO of Pitch It LLC.
Pitch It also sponsored the competition, along with the Santa Fe College Business Club, the CIED, and The Strong Foundation.
The judges included James Coats, CEO and Founder, Phalanx Defense Systems, Laurence Andrews, SF CIED Coordinator and Business Manager, Jonnel Latham, President of GBM Global Solutions, and Bill Poellmitz, technology entrepreneur and SF professor.
After the competition, Latham told the competitors that the quality of their pitches and their ideas were impressive enough to surprise the judges. She encouraged all of them, whether they placed or not, to keep moving forward.
"If you have a passion to do what you do," she said, "you will find an audience. Hone in on your passion and your why."
James Coats is now mentoring one of the contestants to help the young entrepreneur learn from his business knowledge and experience.
The Business Club, Pitch It LLC, SF CIED, and The Strong Foundation have already started planning the event for October 2025. The hope is for other SF Student Life clubs to participate in what is envisioned as an annual tradition for the SF community.
