Past New Venture Winners
2023 New Venture Fair
The New Venture Fair 2023 showcased 69 student-led startup projects, including 37 from Cal Lutheran’s undergraduate, graduate, and Executive MBA in Europe programs, in addition to 31 high school teams from Bakersfield Christian High School, Newbury Park High School, Oaks Christian School, Thousand Oaks High School, and a middle school team from OCS.
We also had a special award for participating BUS 151 classes called the Elevator Pitch Award. These students formed teams, identified a problem, came up with a solution, and created an elevator pitch video.
Some of this year's teams included:
🩺 a connected device to streamline the hospital patient experience;
📈 a platform that enables sustainable investments;
♻️ a marketplace for environmentally-conscious fashion;
🚲 a product that converts peddling power into electrical power so no watts are wasted;
🎨 a platform for creators to find and support each other;
🚀 a platform to connect first-time founders with startup resources;
🏋️ a fitness and wellness app to cultivate a like-minded community;
🚽 an app to find a toilet no matter where you are;
🥛 protein powder and other physical products like ,
🍭 vitamin lollipops,
⚡️ energy drinks,
and MANY MORE!
The community, students, staff, and faculty were invited to circulate the room, meet the teams, learn about their startup ideas, and vote for their favorites. We handed out $18,000 worth of prizes at the end of the evening.
| Prize | Team | Startup Idea | Members | Prize $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Executive Summary (CLU) | Embracelet |
A connected device and software that streamlines the hospital experience for patients and heathcare professionals |
Michael Brandl, Christoph Etzlinger, Carmen Hinterobermaier, Tamara Mayrhofer |
$500 |
| Best Executive Summary (HS) | Skijet |
An emergency release that releases a snowboarder from their board without having to come in contact with the bindings |
Charlie Crispin, Izzy Martinez, Isaiah Seck, Chase Thomas, Cy Mitchel, Gavin Saint |
$300 |
| Best Brochure (CLU) | GoVoltify |
An indoor cycling trainer that generates electricity |
Alexandra Dober, Johannes Eregger, Christoph Glanzer, Marvin Lassnig, Jana Morgenstern, Gernot Zenz |
$500 |
| Best Brochure (HS) | Poppy |
Maintain relationships throughout any stage of life |
Emily Bishop, Kendall Chao |
$300 |
| Best Sign (CLU) | GoVoltify | An indoor cycling trainer that generates electricity | Alexandra Dober, Johannes Eregger, Christoph Glanzer, Marvin Lassnig, Jana Morgenstern, Gernot Zenz | $500 |
| Best Sign (HS) | CyberSpace Academy | Making learning more hands on and immersive using VR technology | Jake Dellacort, Diego Perry, Jane De Guzman | $500 |
| Best Recorded Pitch Video (CLU) | Embracelet | A connected device and software that streamlines the hospital experience for patients and heathcare professionals | Michael Brandl, Christoph Etzlinger, Carmen Hinterobermaier, Tamara Mayrhofer | $500 |
| Best Recorded Pitch Video (HS) | Necros Pack Designs | Packs for ultra backpackers that are fully custom and made to fit perfectly to any body type | Brayden Stewart, Kyle Berg, Ian | $300 |
| Best Team (CLU track) | Embracelet | A connected device and software that streamlines the hospital experience for patients and heathcare professionals | Michael Brandl, Christoph Etzlinger, Carmen Hinterobermaier, Tamara Mayrhofer | $1,000 |
| Best Team (CLU track) | GoVoltify | An indoor cycling trainer that generates electricity | Alexandra Dober, Johannes Eregger, Christoph Glanzer, Marvin Lassnig, Jana Morgenstern, Gernot Zenz | $1,000 |
| Best Team (CLU track) | FoundersApp | A one-stop shop for all your entrepreneurial needs | Avery Conrad, Christina Whyte, Jiangong Wen | $1,000 |
| Best Team (CLU track) | Ecohaus Builders | Helps you build a sustainable home and plan your carbon-neutral future | Trausti Osvaldsson, Allan Tran | $1,000 |
| Best Team (CLU track) | HortiTech | AgTech that enables farmers to filter agricultural wastewater while extracting ammonia to make fertilizer | Andrea Villasenor, Zaria Opara, Emma Sweeney, Caroline Brook | $1,000 |
| Best Team (CLU track) | Tiny Connections | Platform connecting small businesses and consumers | Kiara Zobelein, Brissa Castaneda, Anthony Ciccarelli | $1,000 |
| Best Team (CLU track) | Wayside Energy | A hyper scalable battery energy storage system that rethinks design, manufacturing, deployment, and recycling | James Werbe | $1,000 |
| Best Startup for Good | Wayside Energy | A hyper scalable battery energy storage system that rethinks design, manufacturing, deployment, and recycling | James Werbe | $1,000 |
| People's Choice (CLU) | The Rack Company | Solar-powered, 24/7, 360 degree monitored bike rack | Rama Khader, Gordon Richardson, Nick Kenny | $500 |
| People's Choice (HS) | Skijet | An emergency release that releases a snowboarder from their board without having to come in contact with the bindings | Charlie Crispin, Izzy Martinez, Isaiah Seck, Chase Thomas, Cy Mitchel, Gavin Saint | $300 |
| People's Choice (HS) | Blackwater Co. | Dive light gloves make diving more convenient and safer | Ashley Young, Sam Horiuchi | $300 |
| Best Elevator Pitch (BUS151) | FlushFinder | Providing access to free, easy-to-use public restrooms near you | Dylan Turner, Cole Rushforth, Ariana Gharagozlow | $500 |
| Best Elevator Pitch (BUS151) | Lifter | Connect with other gym goers and become more active | Jacqueline Brandon, Nicolas Calderone, Reya Maestas | $300 |
| Best Team (HS track) |
Scoop | Dessert delivered to your doorstep | Kaden Korver, Leonardo Concepcion | $300 |
| Best Team (HS track) |
Fine Lines |
Using AI technology to read documents, summarize contracts, and alert you of possible loopholes |
Ethan Bayer, Kayla Robinson, Trenton Brooks | $300 |
| Best Team (HS track) |
Sunny Co | Sustainable, bio-friendly suncare products | Skylar Perry, Makena Sartore, Rosslyn Gore, Alazay Aparicio | $300 |
| Best Team (HS track) |
Digi Swap | Platform where users can buy, sell, and swap their in-game items with others for a small fee | Riley Coners, Brooks Smith | $300 |
| Best Team (HS track) |
Eleven Productions | Enabling creators to grow and sustain successful careers | Avi Sobel | $300 |
| Best MVP | Lyfe Local | Helping people get out of their heads and enjoy the world around them through connections and reinforcing positive behavior | Ethan Craig, Maylee Murillo | $2,500 |
MORE PAST WINNERS
2017 New Venture Competition
2017 Awards:
Grand Prize: Weave (Austin Janik, Joshua Janik, Dominic Lunde)
First Place: ChorStor (Evan Brandt, Jake Gould)
2nd Place: HypoxAware (Tyler Gross, Ryan Gibson)
3rd Place: SoleFit (Molly Strawn, Machenzie Hiatt, Bhushan Parulekar, Sam Ott)
4th Place: Startup Kids (Tyler Lucas, Nathaniel Thompson, Dariush Apfelthaler, Zujaja Tehreem)
People's Choice Award: ChorStor
2016 New Venture Competition
2016 Awards:
Grand Prize: Coding Autism (Oliver Thorton)
First Place: RepWatch (Ryan Angel, John Ikudaisi, Robert Kyler, Alexis Schomer)
2nd Place: Xchange (Jonathan Luu)
3rd Place: Jam In (Brianna Bryan, Josh Cardena, Parker Boone, Devin Dimattia, Nick Keithley, Omar Marroquin, Karly, Absher)
4th Place: SkyEarth (Matthew Kromka)
People's Choice Award: Xchange
2015 New Venture Competition