Pellissippi State entrepreneurship students pitch business ideas, compete for seed funding
Top finishers in the pitch competition earned seed funding awards: $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second and $1,000 for third.
Pellissippi State Community College entrepreneurship students took the stage Thursday, May 7, pitching original business concepts to a panel of local leaders and competing for seed funding.
The event served as the capstone for Pellissippi’s entrepreneurship concentration, which guides students through the process of transforming creative ideas into viable business ventures. From developing full business plans to hearing from business experts, the program emphasizes building practical skills, an entrepreneurial mindset and comfort with calculated risk-taking.
Three judges evaluated the presentations: Gregg Bostick, director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, Knoxville; Heetesh Patel, president of Neves Investments; and Gus Zacharias of TMC Asset Corp.
Winners
From a heavy metal music promo company to a bilingual company aimed at empowering Latino companies with digital marketing tools, the business concepts were unlimited. Here’s what stood out to the judges:
- First Place: Kaitlyn Brantley, Kaitlyn’s Kuddles: A care-at-home service covering childcare, pet care and senior companionship. Brantley noted the business has already been operating for three years and has formed an LLC.
- Second Place: Evan Workman, Evan’s Pies: A Tennessee brick-and-mortar New York–style pizza restaurant focused on authentic quality and a welcoming atmosphere.
- Third Place: Nyla Carlton, Styled by Reve’: A private one-woman salon suite in Farragut, TN, offering personalized, natural hair services in a calm, client-focused environment — with mobile services available for aging or accessibility needs.
Entrepreneurship is on the rise at Pellissippi
Mark Fuentes, interim dean of business and associate professor, signaled that Pellissippi’s entrepreneurship program is gaining momentum, with more exciting announcements expected in the coming months.
“The program is growing rapidly, and with your support, we can continue to expand resources and provide seed funding to the next generation of local entrepreneurs in Knox and Blount Counties,” said Fuentes.
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