On Feb. 19, the Morningside Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development held the first annual Northwest Iowa Pitch Challenge, with 14 student teams competing for $2,750 in total prize money. A total of 37 students from Morningside University, Dordt University and Buena Vista University competed. The prize money was funded through the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship’s Everyday Entrepreneur Program.
The winners were:
First place: Assignmate, an AI agent-powered study tool. Caleb Carpenter, Alejandro Plaza and Landry Reynoldson, Morningside.
Second place: Verity, addresses AI detection. Zizi Odibgo, Morningside.
Third place: Outskirt Acres, outdoor venue space in Marshall County. Alyssa Jordan, Buena Vista.
Judges’ Favorites: Catch A Vibe, a wearable device that alerts wearer without sound. Tyler Christenson, Zachary Crone, Mason Ligon Morningside.
ValuStack, an automated financial analysis tool. Caleb Smit, Dordt.