U News 2 | Belmont University has 10 students vying for dollars in latest Buntin Pitch Competition
The annual BIG IdeaBounce competition at Washington University in St. Louis attracted 82 start-up ideas, representing nearly 45 universities from 14 countries.
From Belmont University:
Ten students across multiple disciplines pitched their businesses to a panel of guest judges in a competition for cash prizes the recent Buntin Pitch Competition at Belmont University.
Belmont’s Thomas F. Cone Sr. Center for Entrepreneurship teaches students that anyone — no matter the discipline — can be an entrepreneur. Through the Cone Center, students in any major are provided resources, have chances to make connections, and are welcomed into an innovative, supportive community that champions their business ventures.
The Buntin Initiative, sponsored by the Buntin Family, is a collaboration between the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, Watkins College of Art, the College of Music & Performing Arts, O’More College of Architecture & Design, and the Jack C. Massey College of Business.
Since its inception in 2023, the Buntin Pitch Competition has awarded $15,000 to fuel student start-ups. The competition’s namesake, Jeffrey Buntin Sr., who died in September 2024, continues to leave a legacy of hope and entrepreneurial empowerment. “He was an entrepreneur and a creative and someone with incredible zest and enthusiasm for life. To be in his presence was to be infected with a sense of joy and laughter,” said Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones.
From the Georgia Institute of Technology:
A team of biomedical engineering students represented Georgia Tech at the ACC InVenture Prize Competition in South Bend, IN, pitching an invention that could improve wound care for chronic patients and efficiency in healthcare systems.
Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy is commonly used to treat the 6.5 million people affected by chronic wounds annually, but dressing changes can be frequent and time-consuming. PatchPals aims to cut the time it takes to treat each patient by up to 30 percent by automating a critical step of the process using artificial intelligence.
Initially developed by Aya Samadi and Deniz Onalir for the pair’s capstone design project in Spring 2024, PatchPals would allow nurses and technicians to take a photo of a wound, outline it, and upload it to the device, which begins cutting a precise piece of foam in 15 seconds. Typically, nurses must manually cut foam to fit each wound, which can be inexact.
The project began with the goal of creating a better bandage for everyday cuts and scrapes, but conversations with medical professionals led them to think more broadly.
From Washington University in St. Louis:
The fourth annual BIG IdeaBounce competition, sponsored by Washington University’s Olin Business School, attracted 82 start-up ideas, representing nearly 45 universities from 14 countries. The focus was on the healthcare sector – from biotech and pharmaceuticals to insurance, health services, hospitals, and clinics. It’s big business with healthcare being the largest single employer in the U.S., with more than 20 million people working in those sectors.
After reviewing the applications, the judges selected a baker’s dozen, many of them powered by artificial intelligence applications. They range from wearables that monitor heart function and sleep habits to sophisticated software platforms aimed to boost efficiencies and productivity in healthcare. Three start-ups will be invited to St. Louis to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges at Washington University’s Olin Business School. The top winner will walk away with a $50,000 cash prize, with smaller funding awards to the second and third-place teams.
From the University of Chicago:
The spring 2025 George Shultz Innovation Fund finalists are working to scale quantum technologies, predict seizures, and discover new drugs.
Managed by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, the Fund provides up to $250,000 in investment funding for early-stage tech ventures from the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, and the Marine Biological Laboratory.
The teams will pitch to the Innovation Fund Advisory Committee, which consists of advisors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts, during the finals event on Thursday, May 29.
- staC12 is building an integrated diamond platform – thin-film single-crystal diamond bonded to a number of relevant materials, including silicon, sapphire, and fused silica – that enables the practical adoption of diamond in semiconductor and quantum applications.
- CavilinQ is creating a fundamentally scalable quantum computing architecture based on precisely controlled arrays of neutral atoms interconnected via optical cavities.
- Theta Neurotech is developing a near-invisible electroencephalogram (EEG) patch that predicts and alerts patients of epileptic seizures before they occur.
- PeptiForge is creating a drug discovery platform that produces high-fidelity protein binders through a method that’s 50-times faster and 50-times less expensive than existing technologies.
To date, the Innovation Fund has invested in more than 90 companies. The core mission of the Innovation Fund is to help scientific founders turn their innovations into ventures that advance cutting-edge technologies, generate significant financial returns, and create lasting impact for humankind.
From Tulane University:
Dr. Calvin Mackie, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of STEM NOLA | STEM Global Action, has been named the recipient of Tulane University’s Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The honor was presented at the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards Gala, held at the Audubon Tea Room in New Orleans. The award recognizes individuals whose entrepreneurial efforts have made a significant and lasting impact on their communities.
Dr. Mackie was honored for his trailblazing work in transforming STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and creating pathways for students in underserved communities. His contributions have been instrumental in bridging the diversity gap in STEM fields and providing young students with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.
From The Ohio State University:
Six student-led ventures were each awarded $50,000 in start-up funding at the President’s Buckeye Accelerator Finale on April 3. The showcase marked the culmination of a yearlong program led by The Ohio State University’s Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, which supports student founders as they develop and grow their start-ups.
The finale featured 11 student teams pitching innovative ideas aimed at tackling challenges across industries, from health care and sustainability to space technology and community food access.
“This is the fourth cohort of the President’s Buckeye Accelerator, and the growth in ambition and quality each year has been incredible to watch,” said Cheryl Turnbull, Senior Director of the Keenan Center. “Our students are recognizing challenges across both established and emerging industries and creating ventures that reflect their academic strengths and commitment to meaningful impact.”
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