Future Founders hosted the 8th Annual U.Pitch National Collegiate Elevator Pitch Competition & Showcase on November 10. Now in its second year as a completely virtual event, a record 20 semifinalists pitched their startups in front of entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders, who ultimately selected five finalists to compete for their chance at the $10,000 prize pool.
Watch the full U.Pitch global livestream event here:
Here’s who went home with prize money for their growing businesses:
1st Place:
Morgan Kerfeld & Steven Bleau, Telo Design, University of Minnesota (MN) – $5,000 Telo provides innovative solutions for the underserved community of individuals with reduced mobility due to chronic illness through a set of mobility aids.
2nd Place:
Pierre Paul & Bethanie Couri, We Hear You, Bradley University (IL) – $2,000 We Hear You is creating an American Sign Language translator that allows for true two-way communication without the use of complicated technology or gloves.
3rd Place:
Mona Fang, Karma Trade, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (IL) – $1,000 Karma Trade creates circular economies for secondhand stores, allowing people to trade pre-loved fashion and household goods with a non-convertible digital currency called Karma.
People’s Choice Award:
Alex Pu & Yuyang Zhang, Baryl, The University of Chicago (IL) – $2,000 Baryl is a travel startup that helps travelers create personalized itineraries within minutes.
In addition to the amazing young founders who participated in U.Pitch, Future Founders would also like to thank all of the volunteers, attendees, and esteemed judges who helped make U.Pitch 2021 such a success, including:
Finals Judges:
Semifinals Judges:
Volunteer Moderators:
U.Pitch is one of the opportunities Future Founders offers to support aspiring and existing 18 to 30-year-old entrepreneurs. This work is generously supported by Blackstone Charitable Foundation, Capital One, Keywell Foundation, The John E. & Jeanne T. Hughes Foundation, and J.Freeman Foundation.
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