The bi-annual business plan competition, run by the Barney School of Business in collaboration with other departments on campus, concluded with a Hartford Art School student earning the number one spot.
25 students between Barney, ENHP, HAS, and CETA presented their business plans on Friday, April 19. The following Friday, April 26, the award ceremony was held and three students left with a cash prize. Justin Stochel, a Visual Communication Design major in HAS, won first place by a landslide, with 53.5 out of 55 total possible points for his hot chocolate company, Hot Spell. Principles of Entrepreneurship (ENT 314), the class from which students participate in the competition, was Stochel’s first ever business class.
The second and third place winners were both Barney students. Ben Avital, a Business Analytics & Managerial Economics major, has already started his business, AirExterm (pest control), in real-life! Avital has graciously donated his winnings to the UHart’s Innovators Group club. Lastly, Hazel Hill, President of the Innovators Group, finished in third place for her business Satin Locks, a car accessory.
Judges for the competition included Barney Board of Visitors members, industry experts, campus partners, and faculty. Thank you to those who participated and congratulations to the winners!