Bay Path University Students Swim With Sharks at 2nd Annual Business Pitch Contest, Hosted by Women in Business Club

By Courtney Antkowiak '18

Nine Bay Path University students flawlessly pitched their fantastic ideas at Women in Business Club’s 2nd Annual Business Pitch Contest: Just Like Shark Tank, held on Wednesday, April 11. Women in Business Club believes in facilitating entrepreneurship for students of all majors and was proud to host the student-run event. The club fundraised throughout the year to provide cash prizes for the winners of the competition. 

Three prestigious local entrepreneurs served at the “sharks” of the evening and had the difficult job of choosing the best pitches. Samalid Hogan, a returning judge, is the Regional Director for the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center and an alumna of Bay Path’s MBA program. Gillian Palmer, a first-time “shark”, is the Business Development Coordinator for the Eastern States Exposition, and recently started teaching in the marketing program. Dr. Tom Loper, Associate Provost of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Management at Bay Path, was a familiar face for the contestants.

The three winners, Victoria Thomas, Khalia Albury, and Heather MacDonald, collectively took home $800 in prize money! Victoria Thomas, a sophomore undergraduate Biology/Chemistry student, pitched her idea MicroBuddy, and handled technical questions from the judges with grace and ease, earning her first place. Khalia Albury, a sophomore undergraduate Accounting and Forensic Studies, received praise for her simple but genius idea Contact Glow; contact solution that glows in the dark. Heather MacDonald, a sophomore majoring in child psychology, earned third place for her witty delivery of K9 In & Out, “for all your doo-doo doggy outdoor needs.”

The first-ever duo of Shark Tank was made up of Michaela Tripp and Celest Welch, first-year interior design majors who will take over as President and Vice President of Women in Business Club starting in Fall 2018. Their idea for an interior design service, Smart Interiors, intrigued the judges with its unlimited potential and personalized touch.

Honorable mentions go out to all of the amazing contestants: 

• Kristina Abshilava, a sophomore medical science major, pitched her idea for an app, Photo Mess, that would take the work out of organizing and choosing your best photos. She flawlessly answered questions from the judges about privacy and security of the app.
• Kylee Gold, a first-year interior design major, pitched her idea, The Measurement Wizard; a tool that would make life easier for contractors, teachers, and DIY-ers.
• Cameille Keith, a sophomore majoring in small business development, presented her service idea, Glam Beats on the Go. She wowed the judges with her ideas to make this service the best in the marketplace today.
• Brianna Stockhamer, a junior majoring in marketing, pitched her idea for a food truck, Rolling Sweet Tooth, making everyone in the audience hungry.

The night was truly a showcase of the amazing talents of nine Bay Path entrepreneurs. Women in Business Club would like to thank everyone who helped make the 2nd Annual Business Pitch Contest possible, especially the club’s incredible and dedicated advisors, Professors Laurie Rosner and Maureen McGuinness!