Local Students Shine at WSU's Annual Business Plan Competition Featuring AI Innovations

At the 21st annual Business Plan Competition hosted by Washington State University (WSU) on April 25, 2024, student-led AI ventures were prominently featured. The event, organized by the WSU Center for Entrepreneurship, offered a total prize pool of $86,000. It attracted 236 students from nine WSU colleges, six universities, and six high schools across Washington and Idaho, forming 118 teams.

The top prize of $15,000, provided by the Herbert B. Jones Foundation, was awarded to Cordoba. This AI plug-in helps architects transform text descriptions into 3D models, facilitating better communication with clients. The competition involved multiple rounds over six weeks and concluded with final presentations at the WSU Pullman campus.

The awards banquet celebrated winners from three leagues. Nikki Torres, a WSU alum and journalist, hosted the event, and Brea Starmer, founder of Lions & Tigers and also a WSU alum, delivered the keynote speech.

Other notable winners included the University of Washington’s Happy Pop team, which introduced a healthy snack made from popped sorghum, and Mercer Island High School’s Protein Palace, which proposed a high-protein fast-casual restaurant concept.

The competition underscored the trend of incorporating AI and technology into business ideas. Student ventures ranged from architectural modeling and custom clothing designs to apps for simplifying tasks like parking and grocery shopping. Marie Mayes, CFE faculty director, highlighted the students' awareness of business trends and their readiness for the market, fostered by WSU’s entrepreneurial education.

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