HPU Students Earn $30,000 in Start-Up Funds for Their New Businesses

HIGH POINT, N.C., May 30, 2024 – High Point University students pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges and earned thousands of dollars in start-up funds during HPU’s annual Business Plan Competition.

Students competed for funding to launch their companies or continue developing their business plans. Four student-run businesses were recognized and awarded start-up funds at the competition.

Vivian Love, a Class of 2024 entrepreneurship major from San Francisco, California, was awarded first place and $12,000 for her business, Aircierge. She described it as a virtual concierge to elevate guest services and improve travel experiences for guests of any of the 4 million Airbnbs across 100,000 cities worldwide in 40 different languages.

Love, who graduated earlier this month, also won first place and received $7,000 for her business last fall at HPU’s annual Elevator Pitch Competition. She said she recognized a need for this product while studying abroad in Spain, where she didn’t want to miss any attractions.

“I attended last year’s Business Plan Competition and knew I wanted to be on that stage next year,” said Love. “It was surreal, to say the least, and I am incredibly grateful for the support High Point University has provided over the past year. For Aircierge, this was a massive vote of confidence, knowing that our mission to help others explore more of the world resonates. Aircierge is launching this June, and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Reeve Fatuova, a Class of 2026 entrepreneurship major from Ramsey, New Jersey, earned second place and $8,000. Her business, BUSTZ, provides a quality wrestling and combat sports bra she developed for women athletes. Her business also won third place and earned $3,000 last fall at the Elevator Pitch Competition.

Entrepreneurship majors Eli Sommer and the team of Sean Martin and Andrew Bilich tied for third place. Sommer was awarded $5,000 for his business, Forthright Homes. Martin and Bilich, as a team, were awarded $5,000 for their business, Pouch Mag.

For the first time, judges of the competition included a former competitor, 2020 HPU graduate Caitie Gehlhausen, who founded cell phone accessory brand Socket Lock-It and spearheaded its launch into more than 3,000 Walmart stores. Other judges were investment bankers David Babinski, managing director of Cambridge Wilkinson, and Diane Teed, COO of Brown Brothers Harriman.

Support for the competition was provided by Truist Financial Corporation, The Bell Foundation and Simon Jewelers.