CSUN Fast Pitch New Venture Competition

12pm - 1pm

How to Build Schedule Blocks

C. Doe

Good Company Venture | Founder & CEO

Mrs Robinson

Mike Zoppo is a host of exceptional ability. Studies show that a vast majority of guests attending events by Mike have been known to leave more elated than visitors to Santa's Workshop, The Lost of Continent of Atlantis, and the Fountain of Youth.

1ST PLACE - $2,000

 

AptVibe

Matthew Arias

AptVibe redefines apartment hunting for renters with a dynamic, community-powered platform that turns finding an apartment into an experience featuring real video tours, neighborhood vibes, and rewards for authentic insights.

 

2ND PLACE - $1,000

SassyMouth Straws

Brittany Evans

Sassy Mouth Straws are patent-pending, customizable boba straws designed to add personality to every sip. They provide a stylish, eco-friendly alternative that’s perfect for boba cafes, events, and more.

 

3RD PLACE - $500 

DemonCore

Anthony Nguyen, Tharusha Liyanage, Charles Irvine, & Tristan Sayaovang

DemonCore utilizes the latest advances in 3D printing technology to manufacture retro-reflective helmet accessories, ensuring both personality and protection.

 

AUDIENCE CHOICE - $500 

FBPF

Negin Bani Esfahani

FBPF is a comprehensive entrepreneurship networking platform designed to connect educated professionals in the U.S. with their ideal business partners, investors, and mentors through AI matchmaking algorithms, while linking entrepreneurship clubs across campuses nationwide.


HONORABLE MENTION

AccuPile

Miguel Hernandez & Moe Myint Hein

AccuPile is developing a crowdsourced data platform to help AI companies and data scientists access high-quality, human-validated datasets by leveraging a global network of paid contributors for accurate, scalable data collection. 

 

 

SPECIAL GUESTS:

 

From Granada Hills Charter High School:

Optical

Aziz Essio, Jacob Haddad, & Ishmeet Kaur

Optical benefits customers who often deal with vision loss, and obtain glasses/eyewear. It mainly involves an in-app platform which can ¨bend¨ the light of your phone to match the prescription of glasses, making them no longer required for phones.

 

From Village Christian High School:

Waterify

Gabrielle Robel, Kristine Min, Mia Martinez, & Claire Kim

Waterify is an attachment to water systems that filter the bacteria, lead, and harsh chemicals that normal water filtration systems cannot clean through. It can be attached to faucets, water fountains, shower heads, and water pipes.

 

 

Additional Information:


WHAT IS FAST PITCH?

CSUN Fast Pitch is an "elevator pitch" competition where 5 teams of CSUN students, selected as finalists from a competitive field, have three minutes & three slides to pitch their new venture idea to a panel of judges and audience. Each of the student presentations is followed by a 3-5 minute Q&A period from our distinguished panel of judges.


CSUN Fast Pitch is meant to be prelude, or training ground, for teams to prepare for the Jeff Marine Bull Ring Competition in the Spring semester and is a great way to "pressure-test" your idea in a realistic, yet low-risk, environment. Fast Pitch applications were due Sunday, October 27th, 2024. If you have additional questions, please contact Ryan Holbrook, Entrepreneurship Program Director at the Nazarian College.

DISTINGUISHED JUDGES

CO-OWNER/CFO | CINEMA SECRETS

DANNY STEIN

Danny is the co-owner and CFO of Cinema Secrets, an LA-based company manufacturing wholesale and retail cosmetics and Halloween lines. Cinema Secrets’ top customers include Sephora, Party City, and Spencer Gifts. In his spare time, Danny volunteers in the community through Project Hero and Tactical 180, organizations that help soldiers and vets through cycling.

FVP SENIOR Relationship Manager | PACIFIC PREMIER BANK

Armida Colmenares-Stafford

Armida is a financial services executive with more than 30 years of experience in community, regional and national financial organizations. She is the past chair of United Chambers of Commerce, and currently first vice chair of the Valley Economic Alliance where she serves as the co-chair of its DEI committee. She is also on the boards of the Annenberg School of Nursing and the Proxy Parent Foundation. 

GP/CO-FOUNDER | STEAMWORK VENTURES

MARSHALL SMITH

Marshall is a GP and co-founder at Steamwork Ventures, a venture capital firm based in LA that invests in mature-seed B2B and B2C SaaS companies with higher probability outcomes. He supports founders by offering a proprietary framework for executive and team decision-making, as well as proven, up to date playbooks for operations, finance, and team development.

Senior Adviser, CAPX

SCOTT GLASSBERG

Scott has spent over 33 years as a corporate finance executive, primarily at Wells Fargo Bank. During his banking career, Scott and his team have been responsible for originating and executing corporate loans to hundreds of companies of all sizes from a wide range of industries. Most recently, Scott is a Senior Advisor to CAPX, a tech-enabled financial services company that connects corporate lenders and borrowers.

Application Instructions

Applications were due Sunday, October 27th, 2024. Required application materials:

1) A 10-15 page slide deck (PDF preferred) or 2-3 page executive summary, AND

2) A video not to exceed 1 minute (submitted via YouTube or equivalent).

 

Rules & Eligibility

1) The competition is open to ALL current CSUN students.

2) The competition is intended for student-created, -managed, and -owned ventures.

3) Solo entrants are eligible.

4) At least 50% of team members must be current CSUN students as of the 2024-2025 academic year (Spring 2024 graduates eligible). The "pitch" must be delivered by a CSUN student.

5) Businesses currently earning >$15K in annual revenue are not eligible.

6) Businesses that have already raised >$50K in funding from outside sources are not eligible.

7) Both for-profit and non-profit business concepts are eligible; however, sources of revenue must be addressed.

8) An individual may only be a member of one team.

9) 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from past Fast Pitch/Bull Ring Competitions are not eligible.