Two student entrepreneurs took home $2,000 each in seed funding for their startup ideas during the annual CU Launch competition.
Last week, eight Concordia teams from the CUW and CUAA campuses participated in the culmination of the month-long CU Launch program by pitching their business ventures to a panel of judges. The winner of the undergraduate category was Skyler Moyer, while Alex Jackson took home the top prize for the graduate/employee category.
Undergraduate winner
Skyler Moyer claimed the prize money for Stain Stoppers, a veteran-owned carpet and upholstery cleaning company that also offers stain protection, odor elimination, and carpet/upholstery disinfection services at reasonable prices.
“As a Christian company, we place a high value on family,” says Moyer, a military veteran who is currently in the pre-seminary program at CUW. “That’s why we keep families safe by utilizing incredibly safe cleaning solutions that continue to clean even after we’re gone.”
Stain Stoppers’ products are:
- Eco-friendly
- Soap-free
- Detergent-free
- Odorless
- Hypoallergenic
- Non-toxic
- Biodegradable
- Non-VOC
The company’s specific methods will never de-laminate carpet, cause wicking, leave brown marks, shrink carpet, or damage stain-resistant carpet. Plus, dry times only take 1-2 hours, as opposed to days.
“For most jobs, you simply don’t need all those harsh chemicals and rough techniques to achieve superior results,” says Moyer. “It may take a little more elbow grease, but the safety of it is worth it.”
Graduate winner
In the graduate category, Alex Jackson took first place for his business h Clothing Co., which exists to minimize the material impact of clothing and textiles by creating and providing 100% natural products from a closed-loop production process with a lifetime repair guarantee.
By using business as a tool to further environmental and social causes, the company maximizes its social impact and educates the market on the benefits of locally, ethically, and naturally sourced clothing and textiles.
“Everything we create has an impact on the planet and its many forms of life,” says Jackson. “Our vision is to bring back intention, ethics, durability, and longevity into everyday clothing that creates value for wearers, creators, and the environment.”
Participants
In addition to Jackson and Moyer, the following individuals participated in this year’s pitch competition:
- Travis Wright | A.A. Invest – Investment vehicles based on high-value tennis shoes
- Seneca Miller | NúChic Cosmetics – Customizable makeup palettes that use sustainable and safe materials
- Matt Fischer | Proteingenix – Protein supplements delivered in a gummy format
- Kali Thiel | The Blonket – A multifunctional blanket that specializes in wind-blocking protection
- Daniel Lowitz | Ombo Club – Custom stickers for communicating identity
- Emma Fritz | Joyful Foundation – A unique food pantry serving Ozaukee County
Want in?
The Batterman School of Business enrolls the most students out of CUW’s six academic schools. The BSB offers a complete range of business education programs and degrees including associate and bachelor’s degrees for undergraduate and adult accelerated students, as well as licensures and certifications.
Graduate programs include our highly ranked Master of Business Administration program (with 13 concentrations), and master’s degrees in leadership, accountancy, business analytics, and more. The school also offers a Doctor of Business Administration degree, the only one of its kind in the Milwaukee area.