Six entrepreneurial-minded students from Louisiana State University (LSU) each presented 90-second business pitches to the four judges, all successful local entrepreneurs, during the annual Elevator Pitch Competition.
Photo courtesy of the LSU Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute.
The competition was hosted by the LSU Student Incubator and the Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute.
Grub Drop, a web and smartphone app that allows students to place delivery orders from over 45 local restaurants surrounding campus, took home first place. The idea was created by civil engineering grad student Ayan Mehrotra, who said that 90% of the restaurants in the area do not offer delivery services.
“To me, my favorite part was the questions I got from the judges at the end,” said Mehrotra. “They brought up some interesting points I hadn’t thought about. It definitely got me excited.”
The pitch competition took place during Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week, which was full of events designed to “cultivate and recognize entrepreneurship and innovation,” according to Lauren Hatcher, marketing and operations director for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.
“An event like BREW offers entrepreneurs a common place and time to share ideas to gain insights and education to help them get their startups moving,” Hatcher said. “I think the region is making a lot of progress and becoming a strong place for entrepreneurs to start businesses.”