Six Finalists Advance To The Eleventh Annual Cupid's Cup Competition
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) March 07, 2016 -- Six startups have been announced as finalists in the 2016 Cupid's Cup Entrepreneurship Competition, selected from hundreds of applications representing nearly 100 universities and colleges. On February 19, twelve startups competed in the semi-final round, held at Under Armour’s global headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. The competition is in its 11th year and is chaired by Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank, in collaboration with his alma mater and Founding University Partner the University of Maryland. Finalists will compete for more than $100,000 in total prizes on April 7, 2016 at the University of Maryland in College Park.
The six finalists traveled 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 during the semi-final round. These exceptional entrepreneurs 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 finalists represent six universities and a broad range of industries. They are:
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.
Javazen (University of Maryland) – Leading the world of coffee to a healthier place.
mybestbox (Columbia University) – Assembles boxes with essential, high-quality products that cover a broad range of health & 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.
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.
Each of the six finalists will be paired with a coach to help them prepare for the final round of competition. On April 7, the competitors will converge at the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, to be evaluated by Kevin Plank and an esteemed panel of judges, including: Dan Gilbert, Founder & Chairman of Quicken Loans, Owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Founder & Chairman of Rock Ventures; Wes Moore, Author of The Other Wes Moore, Founder & CEO of BridgeEdU, and host of Beyond Belief on the Oprah Winfrey Network; and Arianna Huffington, Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post and author of The Sleep Revolution.
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, including tickets to attend the April 7 event, can be found 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, CEO, 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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