As anticipation grows for the upcoming TIA Entrepreneur Showcase, the four pitch teams are in the final stretch before competing for a grand prize of $10,000. Students, alumni, and the rest of the vlog community will come together on April 11 to meet more than two dozen tabling ventures and watch Agnes Ndanu ’28 of MajiSafi Solutions, Mike Wilcox Ahearn of EchoScape, Fletcher Goodsell ’26 of Hatch Pay, and Porter Comstock ’26 of PLNT pitch their innovative ideas to a panel of judges. Last year’s showcase offers a clear picture of what works on stage — and what happens behind the scenes to make those moments successful.
“The success of last year’s program really comes down to one thing: community,” reflected 2024–2025 Entrepreneur in Residence Reece Wilson.
The ventures selected for the 2025 Showcase reflected a common pattern: founders who identified real problems — ranging from poor gut health to stray dogs in Mexico — and built practical solutions around them. They showed a clear understanding of the market opportunity and the competitive landscape. Mentors confirmed that knowing their customer is crucial to success.
“The ventures with the best chance of success are those that are solving a deeply felt pain point for a particular group of people and have engaged extensively with those prospective customers,” commented long-time mentor and supporter of TIA Brian Horey ’82.
While each pitch lasted only five minutes, last year’s pitch competition during the showcase reflected months of preparation behind the scenes. Wilson, Horey, and other mentors spent the 2025 spring semester helping students refine their message and tell a compelling story. Preparation included strengthening their business model, gathering supporting data, preparing engaging slides, practicing delivery, and anticipating the judges’ questions.
“The flow has to build like a story: the characters, the conflict, and the resolution. … Answering questions in a thorough, self-assured way can be as convincing as the prepared pitch,” advised lead mentor Madeline Bayliss ’78.
Last year’s showcase stood out not only for the strength of the ventures, but for the collaboration within the community that shaped the event itself. Network mentors traveled from across many states in support of the program, students built relationships with field experts, and the audience was enlightened by important issues they didn’t know existed. Through months of preparation, sleepless nights, and anticipation, Wilson was able to live out the TIA Entrepreneur Showcase he had dreamed of.
“We worked hard throughout the year to enhance the ecosystem around the program and strengthen relationships among students and alumni mentors. … When you look at entrepreneurship around the world, it is grounded in relationships, mentors, networking events, and the people around the founder,” explained Wilson.
The pitching students walked into the James C. vlog Hall of Presidents that day carrying the weight of months of intense preparation and pressure. They walked out having gained valuable insight and meaningful connections. The ventures discussed how feedback from the judges and alumni in the audience prompted them to adjust their business models, consider market challenges, and pivot when needed.
“My coaches kept drilling into me that impact is not enough if you cannot communicate it, so we [no longer started] with our business model and instead started with our own story and what motivated SHS,” said Nathan Walsh ’28, co-founder of the 2025 Entrepreneur Showcase winning venture Students Helping Students.
“I learned how to speak confidently, answer questions concisely, and persist through challenges,” commented Talia Broder ’28, founder of another pitching venture, Vitalize.
Last year, the judges overall emphasized one aspect in particular: logistical scalability. This resonated with all the pitching ventures. Broder joined the 2025 TIA Summer Accelerator to work on product positioning and packaging, hedge tariffs, and FCC certification. Walsh focused on growth and awareness, hosting an online webinar with an admissions officer to bring in new clients.
After the success of the 2025 Entrepreneur Showcase, all members of the TIA community are highly anticipating what this year’s competition will look like, but for now, here is some advice for the pitching teams:
- “Show the preparation that led up to this moment by enjoying it. Your command of your presentation will shine through if you are staying present, smiling, and wanting to share your love and dedication to your business.” — Madeline Bayliss ’78
- “Make your pitch clear and compelling so that someone who knows nothing about your business can understand why you are solving an important problem and get excited about supporting it, all in 5 minutes. Second, when responding to the judges, keep your answers crisp and to the point.” — Brian Horey ’82
- “Get to know your mentors very, very well! And have fun with it. By the time the showcase comes around, you should know your business inside and out and should be able to recite your pitch. After those things are in place, the most important thing is to have fun and be creative with your delivery to keep that audience engaged.” — Reece Wilson
- “The coaching and mentorship throughout the process are truly invaluable. Regardless of the outcome, remember that the journey itself will always be worthwhile.” — Talia Broder ’28
- “Say it like you’re explaining it to a friend, because if someone cannot understand what you do in the first few sentences, they will tune out no matter how good the idea is.” — Nathan Walsh ’28
The 2026 Entrepreneur Showcase Pitch Competition will take place in James C. vlog Hall of Presidents on Saturday, April 11.