Big Business: The Frost Pitch Challenge
First place winner Julien DeLeon.
The Frost Pitch Challenge returned to Centenary for the second year. Centenary’s Frost School of Business partners with the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program to host the competition. The Frost Pitch Challenge is open to all Centenary students. Students are invited to submit a business plan and are eligible to win cash prizes to support their endeavors. Throughout the process students are guided by mentors and local business leaders. This year’s winners were, in First place, Julien DeLeon; Second place, Zuri Jenkins; Third place, Chrystopher Jackson; and Fourth place, Lauren Hawkins.
Julien DeLeon - UBREAKIPHIX
First Place $3,000
Junior
Major: Business: Marketing
UBREAKIPHIX is a cellphone repair business that comes to you! Julien began repairing cell phones in eighth grade after he broke the LCD on the brand new iPhone his mom bought him just two weeks before. When Julien learned the cost to repair the phone, he decided to teach himself how to repair it by watching YouTube videos. He ordered the necessary parts and repaired his phone for much less than the repair shop had quoted him. He realized how much he enjoyed repairing phones and discovered there were few start-up costs to repair phones. There was also a high demand for cell phone repair among his high school peers. Julien has successfully repaired over 2,000 phones and is a certified phone repair specialist. He plans to use his Frost Pitch prize money to purchase inventory for the upcoming holiday season and run social media ads.
What did you learn from participating in the Frost Pitch Challenge?
Entrepreneurs who participate in the Frost Pitch Challenge start by submitting a business plan. The product concept story, product concept and functionality, sum of money requested from investors, and the intended use of the funds are all included in the business plan. In addition, business owners must be ready to respond to any inquiries regarding their products, or at the very least, anticipate them and be able to state that they are addressing them.
Why should students participate in the Frost Pitch Challenge?
Many people dream of owning their own business. There’s nothing quite like being your own boss and running an operation in the way you want to. So, bring your company idea to the table and apply by the deadline. Any current Centenary student may enter, and ideas can be applied to any industry. The Frost Pitch Challenge is an excellent opportunity for anyone with ambition and dedication to the business world.
Zuri Jenkins - Unis
Second Place $1000
Senior
Major: Business Administration: International Business, French
Minor: Economics
Unis was developed out of Zuri’s interests in diversity, culture, and teamwork. The app is dedicated to teaching intercultural teamwork and communication skills to help in diversifying companies. The app teaches companies and their employees their intercultural communication styles and how they work together as a team. Zuri was inspired by her mom encouraging her to work on something that she loved. She plans to use the Frost Pitch Prize money to continue the development of the app, and learn more about diversity.
What did you learn from participating in the Frost Pitch Challenge?
Business is more than the idea. The amount of work that goes into producing quality work and creating profit is very detailed.
Why should students participate in the Frost Pitch Challenge?
It gives you the opportunity to gather the first steps in creating a business plan that can be used later in the future!
Chrystopher Jackson - The Art of Success
Third Place $500
Junior
English Major
Chrystopher’s business, The Art of Success, was born in 2018 from a hashtag (#TAOS) created to stay connected with his friends as they began attending different high schools and started their varsity sports careers. The Art of Success is an activewear clothing brand with designs intended to be a visual reminder that people can create their own success and define what success means to them. The brand highlights those chasing their own version of success and builds a community of doers through simple, stylish clothing. The brand has also given back to the founders’ communities through basketball tournaments, cleat giveaways to local high schools, and community cookouts. Chrystopher intends to use the Frost Pitch prize money to expand the community and invest in materials to allow for in-house printing.
What did you learn from participating in the Frost Pitch Challenge?
I learned just how important it is to have a foundation under your business. My partners and I started at just 19 years old, so a lot of the blueprint establishment went unintentionally overlooked.
Why should students participate in the Frost Pitch Challenge?
Students should participate in the Frost Pitch Challenge for the simple fact that they probably haven't done anything like it before. With any new experience, you are presented with new challenges to overcome. It's a lot of work, but once you decide that you will complete it and not give up prematurely, you are sure to learn something you didn't know before.