2020 Coastal Venture Competition

The University of South Alabama and the Mitchell College of Business’ Melton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MCEI) hosted its first virtual Coastal Venture Competition on Thursday, April 9, 2020.

Thirteen college teams submitted videos during the weeks leading up to the event, resulting in five finalists that competed, Shark Tank style, on Zoom and live streamed on MCEI’s Facebook page. Prizes totaling over $10,000 were awarded to competitors.

The $4,000 grand prize winner was Patricia West, who presented Tech Teachers, a consulting business that helps seniors learn about technologies and how to use them. Abi McCormick took home $3,000 as first runner up with Green Bean, a “green” coffee house that provides education on sustainability to the community. Second runner up Bryant Baldwin and Rachel Chai won $2,000 by successfully presenting P-Barrier, a company that assists with reducing phosphorous run-off in streams and rivers. Third runner up, taking home $1,000 was Tearrany Jackson who presented Sinclair Cosmetics, a hip, organic eye shadow business. Lastly, Joshua Engle was fourth runner up for his business Memoir Life, an app based repository of sensitive familial documents and photographs.

Kudos to those teams participating in this year’s Costal Venture Competition. Given the uncertainties today, they exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit to adapt and overcome. Congratulations!