Brianna Bogos, a student at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, is the winner of the award Norm Brodsky Business Concept Competition 2023.
Bogos pitched his business idea to a live panel of judges Jan. 28 during Rider University’s annual competition, earning him a four-year full scholarship to the University.
“It takes a huge financial burden off my shoulders and allows me to focus on my studies and growing my business,” she says. “I am grateful for the opportunity to attend Rider without worrying about college costs or going into debt.”
Bogos developed the idea for an app for his company, Find The Perfect Outfit, LLC, which connects consumers to independent women’s clothing retailers by curating outfit ideas. On the app, consumers could add items to a wish list, follow friends to see their favorite clothes, and follow various retailers to see what’s new. Retailers would pay to have their products featured on the app.
Bogos, who plans to study marketing at Rider, created a Find The Perfect Outfit, LLC website and social media profiles during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to featuring a variety of designers and outfits, the site allows users to browse outfits by aesthetic, further personalizing their experience. Having gained over 20,000 subscribers across his digital media channels, Bogos hopes the app will allow him to further grow his business.
“The judges were very impressed with how Brianna plans to grow her current business,” says Lora Hudicka, director of Rider’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. “She exemplifies everything the competition seeks to reward: ingenuity, determination and an innate entrepreneurial spirit.”
Rider’s Annual Norm Brodsky Business Concept Competition challenges high school students to develop an innovative business idea and present it to a jury, Shark tank style. Divided into two divisions, seniors competed for the full scholarship grand prize, while juniors and sophomores competed for multiple cash prizes and the chance to be automatically entered into the senior competition when they were eligible. This year’s final judges were Bill Cunningham of Encompass Media, Joe Lopez of Uncommon Individual Foundation and Lisa Teach ’02, ’09, assistant professor in the Norm Brodsky College of Business.
Rider received more than 200 entries for this year’s competition. Applicants were required to submit a brief summary of their business concept, which underwent two rounds of review by a panel of judges, before being selected as one of 10 finalists.
Other finalists included: Jenna Dancsecs of Cherokee High School (second place, senior division); Jordan Hidalgo of Newburgh Free Academy (third place, senior division); Dan Varughese of Monroe Township High School (fourth place, senior division); Danny Emerle of Shawnee High School (fifth place, senior division); Reeva Khokhar of John P. Stevens High School and Elina Csapo of the Hun School in Princeton (tied for first place, sophomore/junior division); Nathaniel Gaw of Atlantic County Institute of Technology (third place, sophomore/junior division); Ainsley Taggart of Cherokee High School (fourth place, sophomore/junior division); and Nick King of Colts Neck High School (fifth place, sophomore/junior division).
The competition is sponsored by husband and wife Norm Brodsky ’64 and Elaine Brodsky. Norm, a longtime entrepreneur who goes by the Rider’s name Norm Brodsky College of Commerce, founded eight successful companies, including Citi Storage, the nation’s largest privately owned archives company. He also truly believes that anyone, regardless of industry or role, can benefit from an entrepreneurial mindset. This mindset is recognizable in more than 30 undergraduate and graduate programs, minors and certificates.