NC State Team a Finalist in Baylor New Venture Challenge

Team Supervize, an interdisciplinary team comprised of NC State undergraduate students and young alumni, made it to the finals in the New Venture Challenge at Baylor University. As recipients of the NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic-based NC State Acceleration Fund, SuperVize is partnering with the NC State Entrepreneurship Initiative to get their product to market.

The team traveled to the Waco, TX-based university February 24-25, 2017 for the final 2 days of competition. Team SuperVize was one of 12 teams invited to participate from 166 total entries and 50 semifinalists. The mostly undergraduate student team provided strong competition against graduate-level students from top universities like University of Virginia and Purdue University. The NC State team earned an Honorable Mention and $3,500 in total prize money, in addition to the all-expenses paid trip to Texas.

Team SuperVize designed to help child care staff members monitor the whereabouts of their young charges during large group outings. Their accolades include first place in Innovate Carolina, second place and Judges’ Choice as a B-Corp in the Lulu eGames, and first place and People’s Choice in the Poole College of Management Leadership and Innovation Showcase. The student entrepreneurs are excited and motivated by their goals of increasing childcare safety and making a difference in the lives of supervisors.

Student Reflections

“The Baylor New Venture Competition was unlike any other competition we’d ever participated in. Our competitors were extremely well-prepared, intense, and were also pitching wildly innovative and world-changing ideas. Not only were we approached by many prospective mentors and talented connections after our own pitch, but we also learned a lot about business planning, pitching techniques, and storytelling strategies throughout the various feedback sessions and speakers they also had organized for us.” – Sunny Su, CEO of SuperVize, B.I.D., Industrial Design, 2016, NC State College of Design

“Lewis Sheats and the NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic have been instrumental in speeding our product development and connecting with the right mentors. As young graduates, we bring passion and dedication to SuperVize. The mentorship from the E-Clinic provides the business management guidance and product development expertise that increases the chance of success.” – John Willard, B.B.A., Finance, 2014, University of Michigan Ross School of Business

“The Baylor New Venture Challenge was an experience that I won’t forget. Between networking with mentors and other young entrepreneurs, the event was an outstanding learning experience for all aspects of designing a successful pitch.” – Joseph Richards, senior, Electrical and Computer Engineering, NC State College of Engineering

About the Baylor New Venture Challenge

The Baylor New Venture Competition on-campus event is a two-day business plan competition and speed pitch competition promoting entrepreneurship. The Baylor New Venture Competition is an all-student competition and is all about coaching, connection, collaboration, and new venture creation. The competition, underwritten by an anonymous gift to Baylor University and the Hankamer School of Business, provides students with expert feedback and the opportunity to win prizes to help launch and grow their ventures. The next Baylor New Venture Competition event will take place in late February 2018. More information about the 2017 competition, including winning teams

Apply to the NC State Acceleration Fund

The NC State Acceleration Fund is designed to accelerate economic development by increasing the propensity of new ventures to survive and grow through equity-free grants. Acceleration grants provide up to $50,000 and pro bono support services to entrepreneurs who complete the Andrews Launch Accelerator. The NC State Acceleration Fund was made possible by a $1 Million seed donation by Lyn and Chip Andrews. Applications for the NC State Acceleration Fund will be open March 1-April 15, 2017. Qualified applicants must have a minimum of one undergraduate (Junior/Senior standing), graduate student or alumnus (within 2 years of graduation) of NC State as a team member.