The competition was already stiff: only 25 teams out of 195 applicants, including three teams from StFX's Gerald Schwartz School of Business, were selected to take part in the high-stakes UNB International Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (IBEC) Apex pitch event, where students from across the Maritimes shared innovative solutions to real-world problems. Rising to the challenge, all three StFX teams finished in the top five.
L-r, Ben Collings Mackay, Gray Pauli and Jayden Barker
This is the second year in a row that StFX students have taken two of the top three spots at the UNB event.
Jayden Barker, a fourth year entrepreneurship student, earned second place at the event, securing $4,000 to fuel future research and development for his fashion tech venture, OSA.
Ben Collings Mackay, a fourth year accounting student from Montague, PEI, placed first in the elevator pitch and third in the 10-minute pitch, earning $1,000 and $2,000 respectively for his lobster industry safety project.
And Gray Pauli, a third year marketing student, secured a top five finish out of 12 finalists for his freeze-dried food initiative.
"A massive thank you to Dr. Neil Maltby for making me aware of this opportunity, encouraging me to apply, and organizing practice rounds that helped us bring home a win. Your support made all the difference," Mr. Barker wrote afterwards on LinkedIn.
Jayden Barker at the UNB International Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (IBEC) Apex pitch event.
GREAT EXPERIENCE
"The experience at UNB was a great one. I got to meet a bunch of great people and other exciting start up ideas. That is one of the best parts about going to these pitch events is networking with other people. I was ecstatic to win the $3,000 as it will bring my project one step closer to being in the market and saving lives," says Mr. Collings Mackay, who came up with his venture idea after his first season of lobster fishing and seeing how large scale the issue surrounding life jacket use is in the industry. "I hope to achieve a product that not only keeps fishermen safe but also provides them comfort and flexibility to do their job."
Ben Collings Mackay placed first in the elevator pitch and third in the 10-minute pitch.
StFX students are now preparing to compete in several upcoming events, including the StFX Student Pitch event; a new Enactus initiative called the Launch Pad linking student entrepreneurs with StFX alumni; the SMU Arena pitch in March; and the Spark NS event in May-June; as well as several DiscoverBox initiatives at StFX led by Paula Brophy.
