Towson Student Entrepreneurs Compete For $10,000 And A Spot In The TU StarTUp Accelerator

TOWSON - Seven groups of Towson University students gathered at the Armory on Tuesday to pitch their business ideas and compete for $10,000.

The College Cup Innovation Challenge tasks student entrepreneurs with pitching an innovative business idea to a panel of judges. The winner receives $10,000 towards their start-up and a spot in the TU StarTUp Accelerator.

Pitches at the event included restaurants, a nail salon, and a nonprofit advocating for mental health awareness.

Similar to the popular TV show Shark Tank, students are given five minutes each to sell the four judges on their idea. The judges are allowed one question after each presentation.

This year’s winner, “Everybody Eats,” is a food service with a low-cost menu aimed at reducing food insecurity around campus and in the community.

One of Everybody Eats’ creators, Towson University Senior Jared Hamlin, spoke with WMAR2 about his plans for the business.

“We’re pretty new into this, but we’ve put in a lot of work already, raising over $700 in revenue, and we’re just excited to keep going,” Hamlin told WMAR.

Hamlin said that Everybody Eats is currently operating out of his dorm room. He and his business partners plan to use the $10,000 to buy a food truck and expand into new areas.

“We already have a good social media following, and we plan to bring the business to Prince George’s County, Washington DC, and the Baltimore area,” Hamlin added.