MSU teams score big at at annual Start Up Challenge

It’s well known that MSU generates success with its extracurriculars. Whether it’s on or off the field, the Bobcats come to compete. Students exemplified this characteristic during the John Ruffatto Business Start Up Challenge in Missoula, on Oct. 8 where two competing MSU teams pitched business ideas and won big.

The John Ruffatto Business Start Up Challenge began in 1989 as a way for students to further develop business ventures, grow their entrepreneurial skill sets and potentially earn funding for their projects. This year’s competition was the 32nd challenge with eight teams competing in the finals for prizes — most of which came in the form of funding.

The two MSU teams that reached the finals walked out of the competition with handsome hauls. Business finance student Michael Mawn won first place in the challenge with the creation of Posted! Software LLC, a one-time job posting app, thus securing $15,000 in prize money. Mawn also received the People’s Choice Award and the Intent to Launch Award, raising his total prize money to $19,500. The Aizy Tech SAR Drone Project received $2,000 for being a finalist and $5,000 for winning the Early Stage Mentorship Prize. The Aizy Tech team develops drones for first responders and was founded by four MSU students. These students included mechanical engineering students Morteza Hosseinnejad and Yoni Shchemelinin, master’s student in innovation and management Jordan Gibbs and Tyler Myhre who graduated last spring in mechanical engineering.

Those representing MSU did so with the advisement and coaching of the MSU Blackstone LaunchPad. The LaunchPad is a non-profit resource that offers mentoring for students, alumni and faculty interested in business and entrepreneurship, and provided support for those who participated in the annual Start Up Challenge. Those who wish to learn more about this resource can visit their webpage at https://www.montana.edu/launchpad/about.html.

The teams representing MSU in this year’s Start Up Challenge brought success and interests that would appear to be quite safe in the hands of the next generation of businesspeople. For those interested in competing in the next competition, students can submit their exciting new entrepreneurial ideas with hopes of being one of 12 teams to compete in the annual event.