A Florida State University researcher and two students presented their business ideas to “Shark Tank” veterans Barbara Corcoran and Robert Herjavec at the 10th annual Power Forward Speaker Series, co-sponsored by First Commerce and FSU.
Two commercial entrepreneurship students from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship Madysen Howard and Macy Maiocco, launched takean event planning app that connects Greek Life event planners with vendors, including venues and other essential services.
“The chance to pitch our company to the sharks was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we were honored to be the company of choice for the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship,” Howard said. “We spent hours preparing and perfecting our pitch with professors and other seasoned professionals.
Maiocco said when the moment came they were nervous, but Corcoran and Herjavec immediately put them at ease.
“They were supportive and eager to hear about our business,” Maiocco said. “Their valuable feedback not only enriched our startup journey but also left a deep and lasting impact on us. »
Jessica Ridgway Clayton, Carol Avery Professor and director of graduate studies at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, represented academic research in the presentation to Corcoran and Herjavec.
Ridgway’s research focuses on developing products that eliminate barriers to breastfeeding and kangaroo care, particularly in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). She has two patents pending, including the Clip to Care, a nursing bra clip system that she demonstrated at the Power Forward event.
As an advocate for mothers, Ridgway is passionate about simplifying breastfeeding and kangaroo care for NICU mothers. Her dedication stems from her personal experience as a mother. To commemorate the 19 days her son, Boone, spent in the NICU, Ridgway is partnering with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) for an annual donation drive February 1-19. This year marks the fifth annual campaign in which Ridgway and his family aim to raise funds for new rocking recliners at TMH’s NICU.
“I loved the crowd involvement and being able to feed off their energy,” Ridgway said. “I could tell they were invested in my pitch when I made Robert hold the towel under his chin and carry the 10-pound sack of potatoes to mimic the breastfeeding experience.”
She said her favorite moment was when Robert told her, “Best presentation ever!” »
Established as Tallahassee’s largest annual business gathering, Power Forward attracts nearly 1,000 attendees each year. It provides a unique opportunity for local businesses, budding entrepreneurs, college and high school students to learn from renowned entrepreneurs. Previous speakers have included Spencer Rascoff, co-founder of Zillow; Chris Gardner, CEO of Happyness; Peter Diamandis, founder of the XPrize Foundation; Kevin O’Leary of “Shark Tank”; and Chip Conley of Airbnb.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary, First Commerce, in collaboration with FSU, introduced an addition to the event: the Power Pitch. This allowed campus entrepreneurs to solicit feedback from famous entrepreneurs. No money or contracts were awarded.
The Power Pitch was moderated by Susan Fiorito, dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, an FSU faculty member since 1990 and a seasoned entrepreneur herself. She formerly owned several retail stores and a wholesale business. Fiorito has extensive teaching and research experience at several universities and developed a module for the Executive MBA program at the University of Stirling in Scotland.
To learn more about the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, visit jimmorancollege.fsu.edu.
To learn more about visiting the FSU Office of Research research.fsu.edu.
For more details on Ridgway Clayton’s fundraising with TMH, visit TMH.org/Boone.
