As a precursor to the Bronco Student Challenge, CPP Students put their ideas to the test in a business pitch competition for the ages
Every spring, The Bronco Startup Challenge inspires Cal Poly Pomona students to turn their ideas into reality through workshops, networking events, and pitch competitions, which are held throughout the academic year. Open to students of all majors and backgrounds, this dynamic program fosters collaboration, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Participants can sharpen their business acumen, receive mentorship from seasoned professionals, and gain valuable feedback on their ventures.
Bronco Startup Challenge is cohosted by the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) Club and the Student Innovation Idea Labs (SIIL). Simarasl, associate professor of strategic management and entrepreneurship serves as an advisor of the CEO club and has brought the CEO club Eboard and the Student Innovation Idea Labs (SIIL) team directed by Olive Li, a food science professor, together to cohost the pitch competitions.
As a precursor to this year’s Bronco Startup Challenge, the 2024 Fall Fast Pitch competition saw five student submissions chosen as finalists to pitch their unique business idea to a panel of judges comprised of both academic and industry partners. The competition was held November 21, 2024, in the CPP Library Community Space and was kicked off by opening remarks from CEO President Winter Pickett, as well as a motivational address from College of Business and Singelyn Family Dean Sandeep Krishnamurthy before the teams presented.
2024 Fast Pitch Competition Results
- 1st Place:Good 2 Go – A Temperature indicating sticker for hot drinks and foods
Founder: Jacinda Lopez, (hospitality management ’26, The Collins College of Hospitality)
- 2nd Place: Exomotion - Exoskeleton physical braces for rehabilitation in everyday athletic apparel to combat pain
Founder: Jacob Krizo, ('26 finance, real estate, and law, College of Business Administration)
- Crowd Favorite: Boundary RSS – A digital platform that uses advanced remote sensing and machine learning to provide subsurface imaging/analysis
Founders: Roberto Smith, (hospitality management ’25, The Collins College of Hospitality)
“This experience is unlike anything I have ever experienced before,” explains first-place winner and founder of Good 2 Go, Jacinda Lopez (hospitality management ’26). “I actually applied to a pitch competition with this idea recently once before and it was denied-- they did not like it at all. So, the fact that my entry got accepted and I actually won is like a dream come true and makes me super proud to be a student here. At first, I thought maybe it wasn’t good enough, but something kept telling me just try again, try again, don’t stop.”
Second place winner Jacob Krizo (’26 finance, real estate, and law) echoed Lopez’ sentiments. “This experience has been awesome it was really cool, and it is so awesome to allow us young entrepreneurs and innovators a chance to be able to expand our business ideas.”
For more information on these competitions, and to learn how you can get involved, check out the website here.