Students pitch business proposals in MSJC 'Shark Tank'

Participants and judges in the "Shark Tank" style student business competition at Mt. San Jacinto College.

Story and photos by Hannah McGaughey, Menifee 24/7 Intern

Mt. San Jacinto College hosted a business competition in partnership with SOCO Institute April 13, when entrants had a chance to win $5,000 in a “Shark Tank” type event.

High school seniors and college business majors could enter by submitting an application. Students were then selected and submitted their business plans. At the event, groups pitched their idea to investors for their chance to receive the prize money for their business or for tuition.

They were judged based on potential future success, their business plan, and the pitch of their product or service.

The judging panel included past winner LaTonya Washington, SOCO Group founder Scott McOwen, Executive director of SOCO Institute Kimberly McOwen Yim, and the director of Rescue Task Force, Lawrence Cutting.

The first group to pitch their business idea was the only group of high school students. Santa Rosa Academy students Tyler Aspengren, Winona Kraus, Gavin Johnston, Hunter Morgan, and Jackson Stevens (above) pitched their app, called Virtual Staff Assistant.

The app could be downloaded by staff and students to notify and alert during school lockdowns. It also provided an electronic way to write green slips.


MSJC student Niu Liu presented next her business, Butterfly Project (above). Butterfly Project is a free dress and suit rental service. After renting a dress, customers are asked to write about their experience, building a history for every dress.

The third presenter was René Michelle Floyd, founder of Ready To Be You (above). Her company sells wigs to customers suffering effects of alopecia and chemotherapy.

Lastly, Justin Gedeon (above) pitched Different Games Studio, a company that works to provide educational games to those struggling with math concepts.

According to Denis Nurmela, the host of this competition, the money awarded was “unprecedented.”

The first-place winner was René with Ready To Be You. She received $5,000 to help her business.

Second place went to Different Games for $4,000. Third place, the Virtual Staff Assistant app, was awarded $3,000. Butterfly Project received $2,000.