SAN LUIS OBISPO — California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students won $1,000 at the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) 15th annual Elevator Pitch Competition, a fast-paced, high-energy competition for student entrepreneurs, held on Nov. 14 at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo. 

Ten finalists, selected from dozens of applicants, had 90 seconds each to pitch their innovative products, services and startup ideas. They were evaluated by a panel of judges on four criteria: how well was the problem or opportunity explained; was the idea innovative; was the direction clear; and was the pitch persuasive.  

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – NOVEMBER 14: Elevator Pitch judges from left to right: Dan Weeks, Melissa James, Matt Pontes and Benjamin Arts. Photo by Ruby Wallau for CIE

This year’s judges included CIE Alum Benjamin Arts (business administration, ‘24); CIE Entrepreneur in Residence, Dan Weeks; County Administrative Officer of SLO County, Matt Pontes; and President and CEO of REACH Central Coast, Melissa James. 

Electrical engineering sophomore David Rock of Irvine, California, received the $1,000 first-place prize with his pitch for Drone Line. 

Drone Line is a modified inspection drone that can continuously charge through inducted wireless charging. 

“Winning the Elevator Pitch Competition is just more proof that this is a good idea and I should pursue it for years to come,” Rock said.

Sebastian Ugarte-Capel of Aliso Viejo, California, a business administration freshman, received the $500 audience choice award. 

His pitch for Revitalized Ramen, a combination of caffeine and instant ramen for extra fuel and nourishment, impressed the crowd. 

“It felt great to win the audience choice award and I’m happy people liked my jokes. It’s a simple product but I think it’s something a lot of people could actually use,” Ugarte-Capel said. 

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – NOVEMBER 14: Elevator Pitch audience choice winner Sebastian Ugarte-Capel (left) and overall winner David Rock (right). Photo by Ruby Wallau for CIE

Other Elevator Pitch Competition finalists included: 

— BlockTerra, a startup that is utilizing blockchain technology to democratize farmland ownership in the United States so that anyone, regardless of their income, can own a piece, pitched by economics senior William Stevens of Los Angeles, California.

— Collaps-a-Box, a drawstring-controlled corrugated cardboard box that can shrink to fit its contents without any complicated machines or custom box sizing algorithms, pitched by aerospace engineering sophomore Drew Stannard-Stockton of San Francisco, California. 

— DoubleDesk, a lightweight, collapsible desk extension that snaps onto your lecture hall desk to extend your workspace, pitched by business administration sophomore Heidi Judson of Turlock, California. 

— Ecoplasticity, a biodegradable coating made of seaweed that will replace plastic lining found on to-go containers, single-use coffee cups and more, pitched by business administration master’s student Mayela Fernandez of Monterrey, Mexico. 

— NoseFlow, a chemical-free and eco-friendly pocket-size misting spray that cools your nasal cavities to alleviate nose bleeds, pitched by business administration freshman Solomon Perera of Snohomish, Washington. 

— NourishSnacks, a brand reimagining snacking by providing healthier alternatives to favorites such as PopTarts, using fewer ingredients, no harmful dyes and superfoods for added nutrition, pitched by business administration freshman Sienna Jones of Encinitas, California. 

— Staxx, the world’s only smart poker chip linked to a mobile app that tracks your stats and provides immediate feedback, monitoring your decisions, calculating probabilities and analyzing strategies, pitched by computer engineering sophomore Benjamin Klein Pastor of San Diego, California. 

— Twist and Toss Pasta Co., a food service that uses a unique build-your-own meal style for pasta lovers, offering a personalized experience, pitched by business administration sophomore Cameryn Pina of Morgan Hill, California. 

To watch this year’s Elevator Pitch Competition pitches, visit the CIE YouTube channel here. 

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About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: 

The CIE opens a world of entrepreneurial opportunities to Cal Poly students, faculty and community members and promotes entrepreneurial activity and dialogue across the university and throughout San Luis Obispo. For more information, visit https://cie.calpoly.edu/.