HPU Students Earn $30,000 in Startup Funds for Their New Businesses

HIGH POINT, North Carolina, May 30, 2024 – High Point University students pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges and earned thousands of dollars in startup funding during HPU’s annual business plan competition.

Students competed for funds to start their own business or continue developing a business plan. The competition recognized and awarded four student companies that received start-up funds.

Vivian Love, a Class of 2024 entrepreneurship graduate from San Francisco, California, received first place and $12,000 for her company Aircierge. She described him as a virtual concierge tasked with elevating guest services and streamlining the guest journey at any of the 4 million Airbnbs in 100,000 cities around the world in 40 different languages.

Love, who graduated earlier this month, also placed first and received $7,000 for her business in the annual HPU Elevator Pitch Competition last fall. She said she discovered the need for this product while studying in Spain, where she didn’t want to miss any attractions.

“I entered a business plan competition last year and I knew I wanted to be at that stage next year,” Love said. “It has been surreal to say the least, and I am incredibly grateful for the support High Point University has provided over the past year. This was a huge vote of confidence for Aircierge, knowing that our mission to help others discover more of the world resonates. Aircierge launches in June and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Reeve Fatuova, a Class of 2026 entrepreneurship major from Ramsey, New Jersey, placed second and received $8,000. Her company BUSTZ offers high-quality bras for wrestling and fighting sports, which she developed for women athletes. Her company also placed third and earned $3,000 last fall in the Elevator Pitch Competition.

Third place went to entrepreneurship students Eli Sommer and the team of Sean Martin and Andrew Bilich. Sommer received $5,000 for his company, Forthright Homes. As a team, Martin and Bilich received a $5,000 prize for their company Pouch Mag.

For the first time, the competition’s judges included former competitor and 2020 HPU graduate Caitie Gehlhausen, who founded the Socket Lock-It cell phone accessory brand and led its launch in more than 3,000 Walmart stores. The other judges were investment bankers David Babinski, managing director of Cambridge Wilkinson, and Diane Teed, chief operating officer of Brown Brothers Harriman.

Contest support was provided by Truist Financial Corporation, The Bell Foundation and Simon Jewelers.