Wright State students will compete for startup funds in annual Wright Venture entrepreneurial competition 

Five Wright State students will pitch original business ideas to a panel of business executives and compete for $5,000 in startup funding during Wright Venture on April 15.

Five Wright State University students will pitch original business ideas to a panel of experts — and compete for $5,000 in startup funding — during Wright Venture, the annual entrepreneurial competition hosted by the Raj Soin College of Business. 

The event takes place on Wednesday, April 15, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Rike Hall Lobby.

Modeled after the reality television program “Shark Tank,” Wright Venture places students in front of a panel of experienced executives, called the Wolves, who evaluate each idea and provide feedback. This year’s judges are Lesley Ott, chief operating officer at James Investment Research; Jonah Sandler, founder and president of Escena Investments and Beth Savage, former owner and CEO of PQ Systems.

The five finalists were selected from 27 applications — more than double last year’s pool. Their projects are:  

• AccioFirst, an AI career platform that helps job seekers identify legitimate employment opportunities. Presented by computer science alum Gokulnaath Govindaraj. 

• Blockhelp, a neighborhood-based digital marketplace that connects trusted teens with homeowners for services such as tutoring, yard work and childcare. Presented by finance major Lilly Willmann. 

• FieldHive, a civic communication platform through which municipalities and public agencies can share emergency alerts, public safety updates and information. Presented by business major Jason Atkins. 

• Local Vibes, a QR-based local guide that helps students find trending spots, real-time deals and friends near campus. Presented by marketing analytics and insights grad student Aeshani Kumar. 

• Pulse, an AI-driven marketing agency that produces social media and lead-generation content for small businesses. Presented by marketing analytics and insights grad student Anupom Saikot. 

Qualifying for the finals required more than a good idea. Students honed their plans through workshops on business planning, finance, marketing, operations and effective pitches, helping them develop essential elements that entrepreneurs and investors look for in a business plan. Several sessions were hosted by the Entrepreneur Center, the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center and Winsupply. Wright State’s Sandler Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and its Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Jason Trimbach, also provided support and mentorship. 

“The Wright Venture Competition immerses students in hands-on learning as they develop and present business ideas in a competitive environment,” said Dawn Conway, J.D., interim dean of the Raj Soin College of Business. “Along the way, they sharpen their pitching skills and gain practical insight into building a business plan.” 

Past Wright Venture winners have gone on to build successful businesses, among them KytchenPulse, an AI management platform for restaurants; Absolute Roofing Dayton; Tumble, an on-demand laundry and dry-cleaning service; and WrinkleFrinkle, a handmade décor and art workshop business. 

“Wright Venture is more than just a signature event for us,” Conway said. “It shows that Wright State and the Dayton region are places where ideas turn into innovation and impact.” 

More information is available at wright.edu/wrightventure.