Spring Pitch Competition
The 2026 Spring Pitch Competition
April 16, 2026 | 4 - 6:30 p.m. (reception to follow) | Donald S. and Johnna F. Grant Atrium, Crawford Hall
Join us in cheering on our finalists during the John S. and Marlene J. Brinzo Center for Entrepreneurship's annual Spring Pitch Competition
SPRING PITCH SHOWCASE
Are you a student entrepreneur interested in selling your products during the Spring Pitch Showcase event? Open to all current KSU students, the Spring Pitch Showcase allows student entrepreneurs to show and/or sell products or services. You do not need to be a Spring Pitch finalist to participate in the showcases - open to all current students with a licensed business. Please note it is your responsibility to have copies of vendor's and other licenses required by your industry available during the event. Deadline to register April 10, but space is limited so sign up early!
ABOUT THE SPRING PITCH COMPETITION
The John S. And Marlene J. Brinzo Center For Entrepreneurship hosts an annual pitch competition to help grow and nurture student startups within the Ambassador Crawford College's entrepreneurship program each spring. All KSU majors are welcome to apply either individually or as a team. Students are selected using the following criteria:
- Business model (market, customer, revenue model, past sales or growth potential)
- Competitive positioning within the market
- Originality/Innovation
Once selected, the finalists participate in a mentorship program to prepare for the live pitch event. The finalists pitch their business "Shark-Tank-style" to panel of judges. Nearly $20,000 is awarded at pitch event.
THE 2026 FINALISTS
Cottage Core is a fun twist on a classic food. Protein-packed cups with delicious mix-ins to give it a sweet treat feel. It’s like dessert without compromising a balanced lifestyle!
Olivia Fenneken
Olivia Fenneken is a 2025 MBA graduate and the founder of Cottage Core/
Yamini Kumar
Yamini Kumar is a driven business student who enjoys connecting with people and pursuing entrepreneurial ideas. Outside of work and school, she is passionate about fashion, creativity, and personal growth. Yamini is currently working alongside recent ¹ú²úÂ×Àí graduate, Olivia Fenneken, at Cottage Core to help launch a company while gaining hands-on experience in sales and marketing.
Hero Energy LLC delivers reliable, portable renewable power for off-grid and austere environments. Its patented Hero Foil wind or water turbine system provides rugged, rapidly deployable energy for military units, emergency responders, outdoor professionals, and homesteaders. By reducing fuel dependence and increasing uptime, Hero Energy enables resilient, sustainable energy independence wherever power is mission-critical.
Nathaniel Wood
Nathaniel Wood is the founder of Hero Energy LLC and inventor of the Hero Foil. A former Recon Marine and CSX signalman, he specializes in resilient systems and safety-critical infrastructure. He also leads Pro Installers LLC. As a junior majoring in Finance at ¹ú²úÂ×Àí, Nathaniel blends technical expertise with strategic leadership and disciplined execution.
LunaCase is a consumer hardware business serving cybersecurity consultants, business executives, and frequent travelers who rely on public Wi-Fi networks. The company provides radio-frequency (RF) shielding laptop cases designed to reduce the electromagnetic signals emitted by laptops, which reduces the risk of hacking. Open Wi-Fi environments increase exposure to proximity-based attacks that rely on close-range signals.
Ben Windt
LunaCase is lead by Ben Windt, an aerospace engineering student at ¹ú²úÂ×Àí with a background in RF shielding and product development. Ben has built CubeSat components for satellite batteries at ¹ú²úÂ×Àí’s Astroflashes Satellite Lab, flown LiDAR-equipped drones for historical site mapping at Shenandoah University in Virginia, and received honors in NASA’s zero-gravity SSEP research.
Gage McCreary
Gage McCreary is currently an aerospace engineering major at ¹ú²úÂ×Àí.
Adam Bamberger
Adam Bamberger is currently an entrepreneurship major at ¹ú²úÂ×Àí.
Marriner Outdoor is a lawn and landscaping company based in Alliance, Ohio, on a mission to transform landscapes from burdens to blessings. They do this through a commitment to excellence, integrity, professionalism, and organic practices. Marriner Outdoor is excited to step into the 2026 season and seek the flourishing of their customers.
Jake Marriner
Jake is a senior business student studying entrepreneurship. He has been passionate about entrepreneurship from a young age and is excited to step into his landscaping business full-time upon graduation. Jake is eager to learn, lead, and serve as he grows Marriner Outdoor in and around Alliance, Ohio.
Shadowdesk AI builds and manages custom, white-label AI automations that plug directly into a client’s existing systems and workflows. They enhance what is already in place. Shadowdesk AI works closely with each client to bridge gaps between their tools and processes, delivering tailored solutions that larger, generic platforms struggle to provide.
Anthony Dalayanis
Anthony is a senior majoring in business management with a minor in entrepreneurship. He is passionate about the law and legal process and aspires to become a trial attorney. Anthony enjoys exercising and staying active, as well as spending time with friends and family.
Nicholas Widmer
Nicholas is a fourth-year computer science student planning to graduate in May. He grew up in Hartville, Ohio, and attended Lake High School, where he played soccer for four years. In his free time, Nick enjoys spending time with friends and is passionate about using technology to help change the world.
Bradley Smith
Bradley Smith is a 2025 Finance and International Business graduate from the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship at ¹ú²úÂ×Àí.
WispofVintage is a curated second-hand vintage shopping brand operating through pop-up markets and Depop. The brand serves customers who value individuality, quality, and uniqueness, offering one-of-a-kind clothing pieces that express individuality. WispofVintage is dedicated to creating an unforgettable shopping experience where every purchase feels personal, intentional, and special.
Tatyana Kanochkin
Tatyana Kanochkin is a junior at ¹ú²úÂ×Àí studying finance and accounting. She is the founder and owner of WispofVintage, a curated vintage shopping experience where she combines her business knowledge with a passion for entrepreneurship and fashion to build a growing brand rooted in creativity and individuality.
The 2025 Judges
Anne Cate is a Made-in-America accessories brand specializing in skyline purses and custom accessories, founded by Anne Johnson, a ¹ú²úÂ×Àí graduate with
a background in fashion merchandising and entrepreneurship. What began with a single sewing machine in a college dorm room has grown into a Cleveland-based manufacturing studio with a team dedicated to handcrafting meaningful, high-quality products. The brand’s signature skyline collection features over 100 hand-designed city skylines celebrating places and memories that matter most to customers. Anne Cate products are sold through both B2B and B2C channels, with clients including Hulu, KeyBank, New York Life and Goodyear. At the heart of the brand is a passion for creating simple, affordable accessories that tell personal stories and connect people to meaningful places. Every item is proudly sewn by hand in the Cleveland studio, reflecting a commitment to craftsmanship and community.
Matthew E. Likens graduated cum laude from ¹ú²úÂ×Àí in 1975 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing. Likens has successfully led two start-up companies and held senior roles at Baxter Healthcare and Johnson & Johnson. As President and CEO of Ulthera, Inc., he led the venture-backed start-up from early regulatory approval to rapid growth and a $600M acquisition by Merz Pharma in 2014. He later served as President and CEO of GT Medical Technologies, guiding the company from start-up to full commercial launch of GammaTile® Therapy, an innovative treatment designed to improve outcomes for patients with brain tumors.
Sandra Volpe is an experienced Fortune 500 C-suite executive, financial expert, and board leader known for driving transformative growth, strengthening operations, and implementing innovative strategies. She joined the board of directors for Republic Services (NYSE: RSG) in 2016. In her role as an independent board director, she currently chairs the sustainability and corporate responsibility Committee, and sits on the finance and nominating and governance committees. Volpe retired from FedEx Ground in 2022 as Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning, Communications, and Business Development Solutions. During her career at FedEx Ground, she modernized the finance organization, introduced advanced forecasting and analytics, and served as a strategic advisor to the CEO, leading many strategic initiatives. After retiring, she began consulting with small businesses and startups on strategy and board composition. Beyond corporate leadership, she is a current board member and former chair of the Easten States Regional board of the American Heart Association. In addition, Volpe sits on the National Advisory Board for the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship and serves as a national trustee on the Board of ¹ú²úÂ×Àí.
ABOUT THE BRINZO CENTER
The John S. and Marlene J. Brinzo Center for Entrepreneurship immerses students in entrepreneurship education and experiences, advances entrepreneurial research and nurtures regional outreach.
CONTACT US
Linda Hale - Marketing Manager of The Brinzo Center
Phone: 330-672-7890
Email: lhale9@kent.edu
Shawn Rohlin Ph.D. - Director of The Brinzo Center, Professor of Economics
Phone: 330-672-1098
Email: srohlin@kent.edu
Nick Petrella - Entrepreneur in Residence
Phone: 330-672-5826
Email: npetrel3@kent.edu