Local Vibes wins Wright State entrepreneurial competition

A QR-based platform that helps students discover trending spots, real-time deals and social connections near campus earned the top prize at Wright State University’s annual Wright Venture competition.

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

The event took place on Wednesday, April 15, in the Rike Hall Lobby with

Aeshani Kumar, a graduate student in marketing analytics and insights, won $5,000 in startup funding for her business concept, Local Vibes, after pitching to a panel of industry experts on April 15 in the Rike Hall Lobby.

“Wright State makes sure that every student has the platform to really push their ambitions and take it forward,” said Kumar.

Modeled after the reality television program “Shark Tank,” Wright Venture gives students in an opportunity to present original business plans to a panel of experienced executives, called the Wolves, who evaluate each idea and provide feedback. This year’s judges were Lesley Ott, chief operating officer at James Investment Research; Jonah Sandler, founder and president of Escena Investments; Beth Savage, former owner and CEO of PQ Systems; and Jason Trimbach, chief executive officer at Beyond the Barrier.

The five finalists were selected from 27 applications — more than double last year’s pool, highlighting growing interest in entrepreneurship across the university.

The other Wright Venture finalists were:

• 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.

• 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.

Reaching 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.

“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.

More information is available at wright.edu/wrightventure.