Fairfield University had two winners at this year’s statewide CT Elevator Pitch Competition. Christiana Ferencz ’21 from Tidal Horse, a sustainable apparel company, took third place in the new venture category and received $500 for best presentation. Candice Peterkin ’20 from Sheisart Media, a media company focused on empowering women of color, took fourth place and received $250 for best presentation in the personal business category.

Peterkin is a 2019 Fairfield StartUp competitor and Ferencz and her team are participating in this year’s Fairfield StartUp programming. Students interested in pitching for a spot at the virtual Showcase in April will need to register by Dec. 5 for the Qualifiers Round on Dec. 12. For more information and to register visit Life@Fairfield.

For student entrepreneurs looking to compete in the next state competition, the submission deadline for the Connecticut Creative Business Competition is December 3. Sponsored by CTNext and presented by The Entrepreneurship Foundation, this two-part competition is for entrepreneurs with commercial business concepts and artistic talent. Categories for best commercial concept to launch or grow a creative business include graphic design, web design, videos, advertising and marketing, and music. Prizes will also be distributed for best artist per category including graphic designer, illustrator, and photographer. To learn more about the webinar to prepare for the competition, and to enter a submission, visit entrepreneurshipfoundation.org.

Questions about the Fairfield StartUp competition? Contact businessplan@fairfield.edu.