Cameras flash and chatter fills the air in Alumni Hall as Christian Eppich ’25 and Annie Alexander ’25 enter, microphones in hand. With a red carpet under their feet and a Cedarville University Entrepreneurship banner behind them, Eppich and Alexander are kicking off The Pitch’s pre-show. “This has been months in the planning,” Alexander announces to the crowd and camera. “We’ve got six contestants and four judges who we’re excited to introduce!” For the next half hour, Eppich and Alexander interview contestants, judges, and audience members about the upcoming show. “Tell us a bit about your startup,” they prompt each contestant. “Where did this business idea come from? And let those watching know how they can find your product online!” One judge, Scott Moffat — co-founder of the entrepreneurial acceleration company Ideal Strategic Partners — flew in from Florida this morning. He steps onto the red carpet, smiles, and captures the room’s excitement with his interview. “I love this event,” Moffat says. “I love the ideas, love the innovation. Every time it gets better.” The Pitch is a Shark-Tank-style competition where students present their startup ideas to a panel of industry-expert judges, answer questions in front of a live audience, and vie for a chance to win up to $1,000 for their business. The former School of Business Administration (now the Robert W. Plaster School of Business) developed the event in 2018 to strengthen the school’s PITCH PERFECTING THE BY HEIDIE (RAINE) SENSEMAN ’23 17
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