Ole Miss Gillespie Business Plan Competition: SellVNTG Threads its Way to Victory!

Hold onto your hats, folks, because the University of Mississippi Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) just wrapped up its twentieth annual Gillespie Business Plan Competition, and let me tell you, it was lit! This wasn’t your grandma’s sewing circle – we’re talking over fifty student teams, all battling it out for entrepreneurial glory. The energy? Electric. The ideas? Downright inspiring.

SellVNTG: From Vintage Threads to Entrepreneurial Gold

Emerging from a fierce competition like a phoenix from a perfectly curated vintage dress, SellVNTG snagged the coveted Edward G. Francis Sr. Entrepreneur Award. And the grand prize? A cool twenty grand – talk about a shopping spree! So, what’s SellVNTG all about? Imagine a digital haven where vintage clothing vendors can not only sell their unique finds but also build their brand. It’s like Etsy, but with way more bell bottoms and tie-dye.

The brains (and clearly, the fashion sense) behind this winning venture? Let’s meet the crew:

• Owen Ridgeway: Our CEO, hailing from Jackson and majoring in (you guessed it) Entrepreneurship.
• Preston Rollins: Business Management guru, repping Atlanta.
• David Markham: The numbers whiz, an Accounting major who made the trek from Houston, Texas.

Ridgeway, in a truly inspiring speech that almost had me digging through my closet for my old leg warmers, talked about their journey. These guys put in the work, spending over a year and a half fine-tuning their business model under the CIE’s guidance. And it wasn’t all sunshine and roses – they were finalists in both the Gillespie and Business Model Competitions last year, proving that persistence really does pay off.

A Competition for the Books (and the Bank!)

This year’s Gillespie Business Plan Competition wasn’t just about the glitz and glam (though there was plenty of that!). It was about breaking records and pushing boundaries:

• Record Participation: We’re talking a whopping fifty-four teams – that’s more business plans than you can shake a stick at!
• Increased Funding: Over eighty thousand dollars in cash prizes and awards were up for grabs. Cha-ching!
• Focus on Growth: CIE co-director Clay Dibrell hit the nail on the head when he talked about the competition as a breeding ground for entrepreneurial spirit. SellVNTG’s win? A perfect example of how this competition can take a spark of an idea and turn it into a bonfire of success.

Collegemate App: Swiping Right on Success

Coming in hot on SellVNTG’s heels and snagging the Charles R. Doty Entrepreneur Award for second place was Collegemate App. This nifty platform is here to save the day (and maybe some friendships) by making the roommate search process less like a horror movie and more like a rom-com. Incoming freshmen, rejoice!

Co-founders Madison Hanna (Leawood, Kansas) and Maryn Sifrit (Overland Park, Kansas) were all about the competition’s impact. They sang the praises of the mentorship and feedback they received, emphasizing how it helped them level up their game.

Innovation on Full Display: Meet the Runners-Up

While SellVNTG and Collegemate App might have stolen the show, let’s not forget about the other brilliant minds who brought their A-game to the Gillespie Business Plan Competition. These runner-up teams proved that the future of innovation is in good hands:

• Sing Sauce: YaXin Huang, a Senior Entrepreneurship major from Forest, is bringing the heat (literally!) with Sing Sauce, a line of gourmet hot sauces that are sure to spice up your life.
• Automatic AI LLC: New Orleans native and Freshman Computer Science prodigy Julien Bourgeois is on a mission to simplify our lives with Automatic AI, an innovative software solution that automates everyday tasks.
• Needle: Claire Watkiss, a Senior Entrepreneurship major hailing from the Windy City (that’s Chicago for you non-geography nerds), is threading the needle (pun intended!) with Needle, a fashion-forward app that connects independent designers with ethically conscious consumers.
• Ketchup Please: Stephanie Handford (Senior, Mechanical Engineering from Milwaukee) and Evan Lampsa (Senior, Entrepreneurship at the University of Miami, also from Milwaukee) clearly believe that every meal deserves a side of sauce. Their brainchild? Ketchup Please, a company that’s revolutionizing condiment culture with quirky flavors and sustainable practices.
• Sticky Boobs: This group of finance and accounting gurus knows that confidence is key, and they’re tackling a common fashion faux pas head-on. Will McEwan (Senior, Accounting, Memphis, Tennessee), Alex Bailey (Senior, Accounting and Finance, New York), Eric Russ (Senior, Accounting and Economics, Nashville, Tennessee), and Carson May (Senior, Finance, Austin, Texas) are the masterminds behind Sticky Boobs, a brand of reusable, skin-friendly adhesives designed to keep everything in place.

The Future of Entrepreneurship is Bright in the Magnolia State

Dibrell wasn’t just blowing smoke when he talked about the entrepreneurial spirit thriving in Mississippi. The Gillespie Business Plan Competition is basically a breeding ground for innovation, and with the talent showcased this year, it’s clear that these students are ready to take on the world, one brilliant business idea at a time.

The University of Mississippi deserves a round of applause (or maybe a standing ovation?) for its unwavering dedication to shaping future business leaders. Remember, folks, you heard it here first – these are the names to watch out for. They’re not just dreaming big; they’re making those dreams a reality. And that’s what the Gillespie Business Plan Competition is all about.

Get Involved: The Gillespie Business Plan Competition Awaits

Inspired by the ingenuity and drive of these student entrepreneurs? The Gillespie Business Plan Competition welcomes students from all disciplines – from budding tech wizards to creative marketing masterminds – to bring their ideas to life. Whether you’re just starting to sketch out your business plan or you’re ready to pitch to investors, the CIE provides the resources, mentorship, and support you need to succeed.

Ready to embark on your own entrepreneurial journey? Visit the CIE website to learn more about the Gillespie Business Plan Competition and how you can get involved. Who knows, you could be on this stage next year, sharing your own story of innovation and success.