Twelve Semi-Finalists Chosen To Face Off During The Eleventh Annual Cupid's Cup Competition
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) February 09, 2016 -- Twelve startups have been selected from hundreds of applicants—representing 98 universities and colleges—to advance to the semi-final round in the 2016 Cupid's Cup Entrepreneurship Competition. Chaired by Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank, in tandem with his alma mater and founding university partner, the University of Maryland, 2016 marks the 11th year of the Cupid’s Cup Competition. The entrepreneurs will showcase their businesses on February 19, 2016 at Under Armour’s global headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, with the top five startups advancing to the final round to compete for more than $100,000 in total prizes on April 7, 2016 at the University of Maryland in College Park.
After ten years of tremendous success and growth, the second decade of the Cupid’s Cup competition kicks off by partnering with a group of more than 20 top universities, business schools and entrepreneurship centers from across the country. Semifinalists will travel from all over the country to spend the day pitching their businesses and interviewing with a group of established investors, entrepreneurship experts, and Under Armour executives who will serve as judges. Plank and the judges will narrow the applicant pool to five finalists who will compete for a life-changing prize package including more than $100,000 in total cash prizes, access to Kevin Plank’s professional network, and the prestigious Cupid’s Cup title.
The twelve semifinalists represent ten universities and a broad range of industries. They are:
ARTIFOX (University of Missouri) – Bridges technology and design to disrupt the furniture industry, creating clever furniture for urban life.
Ash & Anvil (North Carolina State University) – A fashion brand selling everyday clothes for shorter guys.
Banza (Emory University) – Creates incredible, category-changing, and highly nutritious food products.
Clutch, Inc. (DBA: Carpe) (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill & University of Notre Dame) – An antiperspirant hand lotion for sweaty palms that is used by thousands of people in social, professional, and athletic situations.
Headbands of Hope (North Carolina State University) – Creates fashionable headbands aimed at girls experiencing chemotherapy. For every headband sold, a headband is given to a child with cancer.
Hungry Harvest (University of Maryland) – A produce delivery service with a mission to end food waste and fight hunger in the U.S.
Javazen (University of Maryland) – A product combining coffee with functional loose leaf teas and nutrient-rich superfoods.
mybestbox (Columbia University) – Assembles boxes with essential, high-quality products that cover a broad range of health and wellness areas.
Plova Chewing Gum LLC. (Trinity University) – The world’s first and only beneficial oral care product for people who are always on the go.
SimpleBills (Baylor University) – A roommate utility billing service specializing in the student housing market.
Six Foods (Harvard University) – Uses crickets milled into a flour to make tortilla chips (Chirps) that are familiar to Americans, in an effort to normalize insect foods, starting with snacks to meat.
Wolf & Shepherd (University of Notre Dame) – Designs shoes to provide unparalleled comfort by concealing high performance foam technology into the heart of each sole.
Cupid’s Cup aims to reach the top entrepreneurial minds in the country, and more importantly, to inspire and foster the community of college students and recent graduates who have already followed Plank’s lead and are running their own companies.
In addition to Plank, this year’s list of established entrepreneurial judges include 2015 Cupid’s Cup winner Christopher Gray, Founder & CEO of Scholly, an app that helps students find scholarships for college; Donna Harris, Co-Founder of 1776, a major initiative which connects startups to the political, intellectual, social and financial capital of Washington D.C.; Chris Jeffery, Co-Founder & CEO of OrderUp, one of the fastest growing online and mobile food ordering and delivery marketplaces in the country; Ben Pruess, active angel investor and current SVP, Sportswear at Under Armour with 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, brand management and growth strategy; Jason Shrensky, Founder & CEO of Complex Interests, a software solution for organizing and visualizing complex financial relationships; and Greg Vetter, CEO of Tessemae’s All Natural, the world’s fastest growing salad dressing company that is changing the game in food production.
The competition was open to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at accredited colleges and universities or recent alumni of those institutions. Applicants ensured that they are running a legal business entity that has demonstrated proof of traction.
More information about the competition is available at http://www.cupidscup.com.
About Under Armour
Under Armour, the originator of performance footwear, apparel and equipment, revolutionized how athletes across the world dress. Designed to make all athletes better, the brand's innovative products are sold worldwide to athletes at all levels. The Under Armour Connected Fitness™ platform powers the world’s largest digital health and fitness community through a suite of applications: UA Record, MapMyFitness, Endomondo and MyFitnessPal. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland. For further information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.uabiz.com.
About Plank Industries
Plank Industries is a privately-held company with diversified holdings in commercial real estate, hospitality, food and beverage, venture capital and thoroughbred horseracing, all under the Sagamore group of brands. The company is based in Baltimore, MD, USA. Under the leadership of Tom Geddes, Managing Partner, Plank Industries serves as the family office and investment arm of Kevin A. Plank, founder, Chairman and CEO of Under Armour, Inc.
About Plank Foundation for Entrepreneurship
The Plank Foundation for Entrepreneurship (PFE) is a non-profit subsidiary of Plank Industries dedicated to fostering the American spirit of entrepreneurship in a new generation. The signature platform of PFE is Cupid’s Cup, a nationwide competition with a ten-year history of identifying and supporting extraordinary young entrepreneurs. PFE also supports entrepreneurship through nonprofit programs and events in Baltimore, particularly at City Garage (http://www.citygarage.vc).
Erin Wendell, Under Armour, +1 (704) 359-7088, [email protected]
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