The Pinnacle Entrepreneur Prize Awarded at Howard Community College’s Spring Entrepreneurial Celebration

Columbia, MD – The fourth floor of The Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall (RCF) at Howard Community College (HCC) felt like an episode of Shark Tank on May 8, 2018, as twelve students pitched their innovative business ideas to a panel of entrepreneurial business professionals during the spring Entrepreneurial Celebration. 

The bi-annual event gives select students from HCC’s introductory entrepreneurship and creativity course an opportunity to use five minutes each to pitch their business ideas to the panel. The judges score students on quality of presentation, content, and time. The top scorers are awarded the Pinnacle Entrepreneur Prize, which earns $1,800 for first place, and $700 for placing second. HCC’s Center for Entrepreneurial & Business Excellence (CEBE) awards the third place and People’s Choice winners with a cash prize. In addition, the Howard County Chamber of Commerce will host the top two student winners from both the fall and spring competitions at the Main Event for a business-after-business gathering May 31.

The celebration is sponsored by CEBE, Pinnacle Advisory Group, Inc., and Howard County Chamber of Commerce. 

Ken Solow, founding partner of Pinnacle Advisory Group, Inc., participated in the awards ceremony for the following students: 

1st place to Zachary Romer for his presentation of Algae-Air, a company focusing on a current problem that most cities face – urban emissions. Algae-Air manufactures a bioreactor that creates fresh oxygen in the home. 

2nd place to Tristan King for his presentation on Carmle, a program that uses augmented reality to engage children to read in a different way.  

3rd place to Michael Benton for his presentation on Denarii, an investing and budgeting app to help millennials plan for their financial future.

People’s Choice to Olivia Fletcher for her presentation of Multi-Read, a company whose motto is “Where you go, your book goes with you!” 
 
The Pinnacle Pitch judges are selected for their proven business acumen and entrepreneurial experience, and the CEBE gratefully acknowledges the volunteer services and contributions of the following five judges to the Spring 2018 Entrepreneurial Celebration:   

Jeff Agnor, partner; Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny, LLC;  
Dave Beaudoin, professor of digital arts, Howard Community College; 
Natalie Weech, Esquire, adjunct professor, Howard Community College; 
James Gerst, blend master and founder; Hooyo’s Tea; and 
Kayleigh Harkay, founder, Perdidi Fido. 

The Center for Entrepreneurial & Business Excellence (CEBE) helps aspiring and existing business owners and students develop themselves and their businesses by utilizing the Center’s programs, services, and resources, including degree and certificate programs in entrepreneurship, and individualized coaching programs to guide aspiring entrepreneurs from assessment through business launch. Visit howardcc.edu/CEBE or call 443-518-1520 for more information