On Friday, February 28, 2020, fifteen student teams participating in the Jones Idea Challenge Corporate Reverse Pitch pitched their ‘intra-prenurial’ ideas to a panel of company judges and a packed room of students, coaches, and faculty.
In its inaugural year, the Jones Idea Challenge is a competition for undergraduate entrepreneurial-driven students. It challenges them to solve real company problems by working with a team business coach and compete for $5,000 in cash prizes. In the end, the Jones Idea Challenge produces innovative student solutions for real business problems.
The Jones Idea Challenge is funded by the Herbert B. Jones Foundation, which also supports other IEC programs, including the Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition and the Jones Progress Awards.
Five companies, including Giving Tech Labs, Oleo, Keiretsu Forum NW, Delta Dental of Washington, and Encora, pitched their real-world societal problems along the theme of ‘Tech for Social Impact.’ Undergraduate students from the Albers School of Business and Economics, the College of Science and Engineering, and the College of Arts & Science formed teams and selected problem to tackle. Each team was then personally matched with a local professional volunteer to create an innovative solution.
Sharon Ideguchi and Veronica Garcia (Team Sheronica) won first prize for their solution to Giving Tech Labs’ reverse pitch problem. Giving Tech Labs presented the problem that sexual assault survivors don’t have convenient access to with the essential resources to seek the help or assistance they need. Team Sheronica designed a widget that offers personalized resources through simple user experience and empowering language. Their widget is easily accessible on all devices and can be accessed easily through a QR code, the internet, or text message.
FIRST PLACE: $2500
Team Sheronica: Sharon Ideguchi and Veronica Garcia
Coach: Michael Morrow
SECOND PLACE: $1500
Team Ryshun: Ryshun Sampson
Coach: Alex Andrade-Walz
THIRD PLACE: $1000
Team Double Trouble: Alejandro Ramirez and Jaidev Vella
Coach: David Prindle
From team coaches, students, and companies, there are many people essential for the Jones Idea Challenge to be successful. The Albers Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center would like to thank the team coaches who provided invaluable leadership and guidance to the teams: Brien Kennedy, Mark Orzech, Kristian Swank, Jessica Bishop, Kathryn Gardow, Barna Mahapatra, Michael Morrow, Alex Andrade-Walz, Jeff Levy, Samuel Mwangi, David Prindle, Erik Soper, Joe Vogel, Claire Dillow, Angela Kelly, and Stuart Walton.
2020 Teams:
Bon Bons
Benjamin Carlson
Future Founders
Tanir Guzay
Thariq Satrio
Xiaolin Huang
Good Green Boys
Jin Lee Gunvalson
Martin Wilson
Stanley Huang
Alpha
Vy La
KA Ladies
Amber Larsh
Kelsey Crowder
Team Sheronica
Sharon Ideguchi
Veronica Garcia
Widget Women
Emmelene Guzon
Francesca Loo
Natalie Trinh
Team Christopher Gibbons
Christopher Gibbons
Double Trouble
Alejandro Ramirez
Jaidev Vella
KKDS
Katrina Kearsley
Dhruv Sarda
Team Name
Andrew Park
Kaan Kramer
Ryshun
Ryshun Sampson
Team Ironman
Emilio Monroy
99
Ngan Duong
Thao Nguyen
The Boat Boys
Bobby Murray
Derek Heath