On the heels of last spring's 2020 Fairfield StartUp Showcase — complete with successful new virtual format and $28,500 awarded — new and returning student entrepreneurs are up and running in this year’s StartUp programming. StartUp events are being held on Zoom this fall for students to learn valuable entrepreneurial skills from a network of professionals, leading up to the December 12 Showcase Qualifier where teams will be selected to pitch at the Showcase in April 2021.

In last week's Elevator Pitch Contest, Fairfield StartUp partnered with social media influencer, speaker, and founder of the Be Fearless Summit, Alexa Curtis. Curtis is CEO and Founder of Life Unfiltered with Alexa Curtis, a lifestyle website and podcast for teens and parents that addresses topics such as social media and mental health. Through the Be Fearless Summit, in partnership with online magazine Her Campus and UC Berkeley, Curtis reaches young adults to empower and inspire them to be bold and fearless in their academic and personal pursuits. 

In preparation for the Elevator Pitch Contest, students were briefed on Curtis' latest venture to improve her social media presence and to strategize ways to improve the breadth and impact of the Be Fearless Summit. Students then developed ideas for Curtis' Summit and formalized their ideas into a pitch. Fourteen students brought their A-games to the contest.

“I was honored to be a part of the Fairfield pitch competition,” said Curtis. “I’ve teamed up with other colleges in the past for similar opportunities and have never walked away with as much insight and inspiration as I did from this one. The students came eager to learn and engage with my company and in their own pursuits.”

StartUp Program Director Chris Huntley was also impressed. “One of the objectives of the contest is to seek out talent, especially from people who are new to the program," he said. "On that score, Fairfield students always come through. The pitches were amazingly good; every team seemed like a winner.”

At the end of contest $3,000 was awarded to the five best pitches: John Cain ’22 and Kayla Krasnow ’22 won $300 each; Mariana Antaya ’23 and Charlie Brodigan ’24 were awarded $700; and $1,000 went to Dayanna Mazo ’20.

Up next is the Business Model Workshop on November 11 where students will learn the skills to communicate their business ideas to investors. A week later, participants in the Showcase Qualifier Pitch Workshop will pitch for a spot in the Showcase in April. Once selected, students entrepreneurs will work with alumni and local business professionals during the spring semester to further develop their business plans and learn what it takes to be an entrepreneur.  

Students interested in participating in the Business Model Workshop or Showcase Qualifier Pitch Workshop should register on Life@Fairfield. For questions, please contact Fairfield Dolan at dolancommunication@fairfield.edu.