Two students who created an online textbook trading business took top honors last week in the College's first business plan competition.
Entrepreneurship Club
Sophomores Steve Walker and Josh DeBartolo came up with Project Corvis, which brings together students looking to buy or sell their college textbooks. The pair's business plan beat out three other companies created by Union students. They won two train tickets to New York City, where they will have lunch with Devin Wenig '88, president of Reuters Customer Segments. They also won a night at the Cornell Club.
The contest was sponsored by the College's Entrepreneurship Club, founded in February 2003. The competition consisted of both an “elevator pitch,” in which students had two minutes to present their idea, and a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation.
Seniors Brian Selchick and Evan Gouzie won the elevator pitch segment for their company, eWired Auctions, LLC. The company specializes in eBay fundraising for charities. They won a $150 gift card from Staples.
Other finalists were sophomores Robert Paul and Brad Karelitz, who created Universal Trade, an online brokerage that enables investors to trade in foreign markets; and senior Whitman Bowers, who pitched the Chicago Speakeasy Hotel, which features a gangster theme.
Judges for the competition included Brian Epstein '88, founder and owner of WiFiFee, a wireless internet service provider; Les Trachtman '77, CEO of Active Endpoints; and Mike Brody, manager of Computershare.
The judges were given five minutes to grill students about their business plans and offer suggestions or advice
“It was good to hear their opinions,'' DeBartolo said. “We competed at RPI last year, and it's good for Union College to have its own competition.''
Epstein also said he was pleased Union now has its own contest.
“I've been pushing for something like this for awhile,'' said Epstein, who presented the winners with their prizes. “I've been a judge at the RPI contest, and I'm a Union alum. As a local person, I'm glad to see Union back in the game.''