NORMAL — Illinois State University senior athlete Aneel Gillan won the $10,000 prize during the seventh annual Startup Showcase Competition on Friday in the Aaron Leetch Club at Hancock Stadium.
Gillan’s idea, called “VRtual Playbook,” is a software he created in just three hours that aims to improve sports team development with the use of a virtual reality application.
Aneel Gillan, a senior at Illinois State University and first-place winner in the Startup Showcase on Friday, was awarded $10,000 for his “VRtual Playbook.”
“I feel really good. The hard work definitely paid off. I honestly, I came in here with my idea and I was like, I’m going to let it ride and see what happens,” Gillan said. “The plan is to keep growing. Our goal is to start talking to some NBA teams in February 2024 and find some developers, and keep pushing our app forward.”
The second-place winners were juniors Isabel Crabtree and Michael Baird, who earned $6,000 for “TailEnd,” a career-based application to help students curate class schedules and find jobs.
Isabel Crabtree and Michael Baird, second-place winners in the Startup Showcase at Illinois State University, won $6,000 for their app “TailEnd.”
The third-place prize of $4,000 went to senior athlete Sabrina Schlenker, who created the “HairCan,” a trashcan to help keep hair off of shower walls, an idea she came up with in middle school.
Sabrina Schlenker, a senior track and field player at Illinois State University and third-place winner in the Startup Showcase, won $4,000 for the “HairCan.” She already has 50 preorders for her product.
The remaining four finalists received $1,000 each for their business endeavors, an increase from the $500 prizes given last year. Those recipients included graduate student Mikki O’Neal for “Purpose After Sports,” a program for post-student-athletes; junior Jake Fox for “The Cart Chock,” a shopping cart that won’t run into cars; senior trio Melanie Guzman, Mankirat Kaur and Nai-Chun Haung for their “Last Minute Tote,” an all-purpose waterproof bag with a detachable mat; and junior Marshawana Wilson for “Beyond Butta,” an organic body moisturizer that lasts longer than many other lotions.
Finalists in the Illinois State University Startup Showcase pose for a photo with their earnings on Friday in the Aaron Leetch Club at Hancock Stadium.
“Yeah, we’re in shock. We didn’t even really expect to make top three because just everyone here is so talented and their ideas are great, but it’s an honor, we’re super excited to jumpstart our business,” Crabtree said.
She added that she and Baird were especially thankful for Terry Lowe, director of events at the Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in the College of Business at ISU, and thankful for the startup fund.
“This is our ISU version of ‘Shark Tank,’ and every year we see student ideas changing and getting more contemporary,” Lowe said, referring to the reality TV series on ABC. “What we have noticed this year is we’re seeing more of the high-tech kind of things that we see on television now. Students are quickly catching up on how to come up with ideas that will be marketable.”
Preparation for the annual event begins as soon as school starts in mid-August. Lowe said they put signs all over the Quad and send out a mass email to generate student interest. Students then submit a three-minute video pitch for consideration.
Finalists in the Illinois State University Startup Showcase pose for a photo with their earnings on Friday in the Aaron Leetch Club at Hancock Stadium.
The initial round of judging takes place in the first two weeks of October, narrowing down 25 students to this year’s seven finalists, who also receive personal coaching before they present at the showcase.
This year’s judges included Julie Dobski, owner of Little Jewels Learning Center and Rob Dob’s Restaurant; Jennifer McCarron, president and owner of Business Builders Marketing in Bloomington; Scott Nancarrow, global practice director for mergers and acquisitions at Bain & Co.; and Heather Young, owner of OhmFit Activewear in Normal.
During the showcase, each student gets 20 minutes to present their ideas and products; they also take questions from the panel of judges.
Lowe said word of mouth has spurred more students to become involved with the program.
“I like to see them from the time they enter until they appear on the stage,” Lowe said. “The changes, the maturity, the confidence, they know, because we coach them. And over a couple of weeks, we will coach them and say, we suggest this, we suggest that, but it’s all up to you. It’s your presentation.”
Finalists in the Illinois State University Startup Showcase pose for a photo with their earnings on Friday in the Aaron Leetch Club at Hancock Stadium.
He added, “I’ve seen a lot of them really come out and show they’re professional. When they get this experience and they leave this event, I think (they become) a better student all around.”
The showcase first started out as a business plan competition in the early 2000s. Lowe said they have been modifying it ever since, which is why they eventually moved to a “Shark Tank”-like model.
Last year’s winners included Joi Strickland, who created a student productivity app called “Studentivity”; Niya Gibb, who launched a line of satin hoodies called “Divine Passion Art”; and Zach Camacho, with a business app called “Axyes.”
Kelli Appel talks about Future Teacher Conference at Illinois State University
Photos: Lourdes at Illinois State University
Illinois State guard Luke Kasubke (0) in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State forward Brandon Lieb (12) and Lourdes forward Jackie Harris (34) go after a loose ball in the first half.
Illinois State forward Brandon Lieb (12) goes up to shoot in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State forward Brandon Lieb (12) goes up to shoot in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State guard Dalton Banks (3) goes up to shoot in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State guard Dalton Banks (3) goes up to shoot in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State guard Dalton Banks (3) and guard Luke Kasubke (0) celebrate in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State guard Darius Burford (10) looks to pass in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State bench cheers after a three pointer in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State guard Johnny Kinziger (11) looks to pass in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State guard Luke Kasubke (0) in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State guard Malachi Poindexter (1) shoots in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State forward Myles Foster (4)in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon cheers on his team in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon talks with guard Darius Burford (10) in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State guard Ty Pence (2) and Lourdes Jackie Harris (34) get tied up in the first half. .
Illinois State guard Ty Pence (2) in the first half against Lourdes.
Illinois State guard Ty Pence (2) guards Lourdes Jackie Harris (34) in the first half. .
Contact Olivia Jacobs at 309-820-3352. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @olivia___jacobs
