Small Business Plan Competition
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 1:30 p.m. | Hislop Auditorium
Win Support for your Start-Up Idea
The Utica University / Preferred Mutual Small Business Plan "Shark Tank" Competition is designed to support Utica University students in transforming innovative ideas into viable businesses. The competition provides:
- Seed funding
- Mentorship
- Hands-on experiential learning in:
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Marketing
- Management
Eligibility
To participate in the Small Business Plan competition, you must be a currently enrolled Utica University student.
- Individual enterprise founders or student teams may apply
- Participating teams must designate one primary student representative
How To Enter
To enter, each team or individual must submit a business proposal to Dr. Zhaodan Huang at zhuang@utica.edu by April 15, 2026.
Proposal Requirements
All applicants must submit a complete application that includes:
- Business idea overview
- Problem and proposed solution
- Market opportunity and competition analysis
- Marketing and growth strategy
- Current traction (if applicable)
- Financial projections
- Proposed use of funds
Sponsorship
The Shark Tank competition is proudly organized by the Utica University Investment Club. We gratefully acknowledge the generous financial support of our corporate sponsor, Preferred Mutual Insurance Corporation, and extend our sincere appreciation to Mr. Benedikt Sander, President & CEO of Preferred Mutual Insurance Corporation, for his leadership and continued support of this initiative.
Competition Details
Each selected student or team will be allotted a total of 30 minutes: up to 15 minutes for original pitch, leaving the remaining time for Q&A. The competition will follow a Shark Tank–style format consisting of the following stages:
- Application Review
- Initial screening by Incubator members and faculty advisors
- Live Pitch Presentation
- Selected students present their business ideas to a judging panel consisting of following members:
- One corporate representative from Preferred Mutual Insurance Corporation
- Other corporate / community representatives
- Faculty Advisors
- Utica University Investment Club (shared one vote)
- Pitches include: Business Overview, Market Opportunity, Financial Summary, Funding Request.
- Students are allotted 15 minutes per pitch
- Selected students present their business ideas to a judging panel consisting of following members:
- Question & Answer Session
- Judges ask questions to assess feasibility, execution, and impact
- Q&A may use the remaining time up to 30 minutes total, including student pitch
Funding recipients and award amounts are determined by the panel.
- 1st Place: $2,000
- 2nd Place: $1,000
- 3rd Place: $500
Note: Total funding awarded per competition is subject to available Incubator capital. The Incubator is not required to fund all finalists.
Award-winning participants are required to:
- Use funds strictly for the approved business purpose
- Work with assigned student consultants where applicable and if available
- Provide periodic progress updates to the Utica University Investment Club
All participants are expected to:
- Act professionally and ethically
- Provide truthful and accurate information
- Respect judges, organizers, and participants
Competition Programs and Results
See below for program schedules and competition prizewinners from previous years.
Utica University Preferred Mutual Small Business Competition 2026
EVENT ITINERARY and RESULTS
Date and Location: April 22, Wednesday, 1:30pm at Hislop Auditorium, Thurston Hall
OPENING REMARKS (1:30pm – 1:40pm) ( President Nesbitt, Utica University; Representative, Preferred Mutual)
SESSION I (1:40 PM – 3:00 PM)
Team 1 – CyberReady, Nolan Flynn and Ben Lohmann, Time: 1:40 – 1:55 PM
Team 2 – ConnectPlus Makayla Coleman; Time: 1:56 – 2:11 PM
Team 3 – Namnu Pratiksha Bista and Ashim Pandey; Time: 2:12 – 2:27 PM (First Prize Winner)
Team 4 – Zugo Will Hilfiker; Time: 2:28 – 2:43 PM (Second Prize Winner)
Team 5 – TurstLens Aryan KC; Time: 2:44 – 3:00 PM
COFFEE BREAK
3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
SESSION II (3:20 PM – 4:40 PM)
Team 6 – Real-Time Bias-Aware AI for ACL Rehab Ashim Pandey and Emmanuel Kow-Donkor; Time: 3:20 – 3:35 PM
Team 7 – After-Hour Pick UP Solutions Ruby Sutphin; Time: 3:36 – 3:51 PM
Team 8 – Pasqualetti Pasta Anthony Pasqualetti; Time: 3:52 – 4:07 PM
Team 9 – LocalLens Revati Nishant Nasikkar; Time: 4:08 – 4:23 PM (Third Prize Winner)
Team 10 – VulneraX Patric Penna & Vonnie Magnussen; Time: 4:24 – 4:40 PM
CLOSING EVENTS (3:20 PM – 4:40 PM)
Judge Panel Recess
4:40 - 5:00 PM
Awards Ceremony
5:00 - 5:15 PM
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