myCSUSM
Quick Pitch Competition Fall 2023
There have been multiple successful business ventures who have successfully pitched and won the Quick Pitch Competition and we are thrilled to share their stories with you!
Meet the Winners
Hot Summer Gummies
First place winner, Mo Carasco, is a 3rd year student majoring in Marketing. Her business, "Hot Summer Gummies", currently makes and sells tamarind-covered gummy candies using a unique family recipe. Mo distributes this authentic Mexican treat to independent stores throughout Imperial County where her family is from. The gummies come in 5 flavors and she hopes to expand the business into San Diego. You can find out more on her Instagram page: @hot.summer.rim.dip
Magnify
Second place winners, Roxanne Nova, Melley Keomahavong, and Shifa Kousar, created a tracking device that attaches to prescription glasses and sunglasses. Using a subscription-based app and GPS, the user would be able locate their misplaced glasses.
Art for Every Body
Third place winner, Isabella Bowman, is a 4th year student majoring in Digital Art Media & Design. Her business, "Art for Every Body", is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating public art opportunities for students in public school systems enriching their personal and academic lives during their developing years. Isabella believes creating equal art opportunities in schools, especially for students experiencing low income, allows children to express them selves creatively.
Thank you to those who applied, pitched, and attended.
Submissions for Spring 2024 are now open!
Please review the competition guide
Past Winners
Spring 2023
Marissa Charez and the judges
Regain The Power of Self Defense
Business student Marissa Charez won 1st place with her business model, which is a subscription based program for young girls, teens, and adults to learn life saving self defense techniques. Real life scenario classes, workshops, firearm training, self defense products, and survivor resources would be provided by this program.
Read more about Charez's business model here!
Open Ear
Natalie Greenwood-Mendez is a psychological sciences student who placed 2nd for her business idea, “Open Ear,” which is a virtual company-sponsored service dedicated towards supporting white-collar workers by providing frequent sessions with licensed mental health professionals.
Vrify
Jakob Hatlestad placed 3rd for his non-profit called "Vrify," which focuses on VR in Education, bringing field trips to the classroom through VR and enhancing student engagement.
Fall 2022
Café and Resource Center
Emily Canizalez won 1st place for her pitched business idea, "Café and Resouce Center," which is a café with workers that have intellectual disabilities. In this café, they can continue learning basic life skills, which can create a sense of responsibility and belonging, and promotes inclusion.
Protasi Consulting
Ayokunmi Akanie won 2nd place for their non-profit idea called "Protasi Consulting," which is focuses on college business formation consulting.
Wave Energy Converter
3rd place winner, Miguel Angel Molina, proposed a business called "Wave Energy Converter." This business would work on the production and sale of a marine renewable energy product which is currently in development. This product would be placed in oceans to convert the kinetic energy of the waves into usable electricity for a range of applications.
Spring 2022
Craft Your Bra
Rachel Lafenhagen won 1st place for her business, "Craft Your Bra," which solves the issue of improperly fitting bras caused by a difference in breast size with its customizable modular bra system. The product is available via web and app and also qualifies for durable medical equipment for our breast cancer fighters and survivors.
Psilocybin Supplementation
Matthew Bobe won 2nd place for his business idea, "Psliocybin Supplementation."
Waypoint Lockers
3nd place winner, Ethan Smith, came up with "Waypoint Lockers," which would prevent vehicle and possession theft on all beachest for surfers and all alike. We have designed a safe and personal locker system that is environmentally safe.