TAMUCC hosts seventh annual Buc Days Ideas Challenge business competition for students

3 groups of Texas A&M College-Corpus Christi students pitched their first business thoughts to a panel of judges at the seventh once-a-year Buc Times Thoughts Challenge Wednesday.

The “Shark Tank”-like small business notion competitors is open up to all Islander pupils and provides them a way to take a look at a business enterprise notion, know-how or improvements in a aggressive placing.

The 1st-position team was awarded $2,500 and highly developed to contend at the Raymond Ideas Obstacle at the Mays Business College at Texas A&M University in School Station. They also gained totally free Whataburger for a 12 months.

2nd place was awarded $1,500 and third place $1,000. All three finalists received a one-yr membership to the Coastal Bend Enterprise Innovation Heart Pupil Incubator — a application built to help consumers in the early phase of progress on their small business venture.

Jordyn Barker (left) and Caleb Thomas took home first place at the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's seventh annual Ideas Challenge showcase with their rodeo app idea Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Michael Denton and Dawson Pietsch won second place for their soap tablet idea and Genevieve Ridgway won third for her wine recommendation website. — Jordyn Barker (still left) and Caleb Thomas took home initially put at the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s seventh annual Tips Challenge showcase with their rodeo application idea Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Michael Denton and Dawson Pietsch gained next position for their soap tablet plan and Genevieve Ridgway gained third for her wine recommendation website.

Out of 59 applicants, the 3 finalists were being My Wine Compass by Genevieve Ridgway, Solva Skincare by Michael Denton and Dawson Pietsch, and MiProRodeo by Jordyn Barker and Caleb Thomas.

Attendees in the group, along with 3 qualified judges, voted on which crew would earn.

Barker and Thomas’ MiProRodeo took house the grand prize with Denton and Pietsch inserting second and Ridgway 3rd.

The app, pronounced My Pro Rodeo, is a “a person-stop shop for all factors experienced rodeo.”

Barker reported the advantages for the application are aimed toward athletes, judges and supporters.

Caleb Thomas and Jordyn Barker speak to judges and a crowd of attendees at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi about a business opportunity Wednesday, April 20, 2022. The two competed in the institution's Ideas Challenge showcase. — Caleb Thomas and Jordyn Barker talk to judges and a crowd of attendees at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi about a business opportunity Wednesday, April 20, 2022. The two competed in the institution’s Tips Challenge showcase.

“For followers, they’re equipped to download tickets straight to their digital wallets, generate factors for VIP experiences and livestream Cowboy Channel Plus,” Barker advised a group of attendees. “The athletes are equipped to enter receipt payouts and see their up coming go-all around quickly. The judges are in a position to use in-application scoring, alter scores directly from the arena flooring, as nicely as include penalties and lessen discrepancies.”

Thomas, who has eight a long time of experience in the rodeo industry, stated the demographic in rodeo is swiftly expanding and starting to be far more tech savvy.

“Our systems stay the identical: old-fashioned, outdated and washed out,” Thomas reported. “When we consider of expert athletics purposes, we think about sporting activities betting and all all those things you see in the NFL, the MLB or the UFC. We know much too that rodeo would advantage from a more interactive customer working experience.”

Caleb Thomas and Jordyn Barker answer a question from judges at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi about a business opportunity Wednesday, April 20, 2022. The two competed in the institution's Ideas Challenge showcase. — Caleb Thomas and Jordyn Barker solution a concern from judges at Texas A&M College-Corpus Christi about a company prospect Wednesday, April 20, 2022. The two competed in the institution’s Ideas Challenge showcase.

Marketing and advertising assistant professor Jennifer Taylor, a single of the three judges, reported she chose MiProRodeo since it seemed even further alongside in enhancement and nearer to becoming launched.

“They all experienced wonderful concepts, but it was really hard to select just just one,” Taylor stated. “I genuinely hope the viewers took from nowadays how you can just take your passion and switch it into a successful concept that could suddenly flip into a organization and legacy for your household. Every of our contestants did that today.”

Barker explained she’s hunting ahead to the no cost Whataburger for a calendar year, but is grateful to have won.

“Ideally, we can get an investor and just take this to the following stage,” Barker stated. “This encounter alone has been existence-changing, but to have this turn out to be actual would be a little something else.”