MCC Holds Business Pitch Contest for Students

Middlesex Community College held the Pitch and Win contest on Thursday, May 14 on the Lowell Campus. Students of varying majors had the opportunity to pitch their idea for a small business, connect with a panel of judges, and compete for cash prizes. MCC business entrepreneurship student Laura Johnson, of Chelmsford, was awarded first place for her L & B Treats N Sweets dog bakery.

“Winning first place reminded me that my dream wasn't just a vision, but other people can see my passion for what I do,” Johnson said. “This has taught me that with a small idea and the willingness to see it through, anything is possible – from the thinking stage all the way to making the first sale, selling out, taking my first order, soon planning out the layout of where all my treats are going to be in my store.”

After her dog’s illness, Johnson started making food herself. To turn her hobby into a business, she started taking classes at Middlesex. In addition to Johnson, MCC awarded second place to Jonathan Power for Branded Agent, third place to Akash Hanchur and Qais Saleh for Insta-Synch, and the audience pick to Prima Nsibambi for Prima Noor Apparel.

Pursuing MCC’s Launch Your Business Now certificate, Power’s Branded Agent is a modern branding, marketing, and content development company for real estate professionals. Having spent over 20 years in the industry, he saw a need for marketing services for agents. Beyond receiving funding, he believes the biggest benefit of MCC’s Pitch Contest was receiving feedback from the judges and connecting with other entrepreneurs.

“This experience was far more than simply presenting a business idea,” Powers said. “It challenged me to think strategically, refine my communication and presentation skills, and further validate the long-term vision for Branded Agent. It also reinforced the importance of entrepreneurship, adaptability, and professional growth while giving me real-world experience pitching a business in a competitive environment.”

After simulating a business pitch at the national DECA competition, Hanchur and Saleh were inspired to turn the idea into reality. Using three easy features, Insta-Synch is an app to make group planning seamless. Still in the idea phase, their next steps are to strengthen their pitch to get investors and complete more research. The Pitch Contest allowed them to be in a strong position to move forward with their idea.

“This was an amazing experience,” Hanchur said. “I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur since I was young. I feel like the resources that MCC has provided to me are helping me achieve the dream. It was an honor to get awarded third place, as it gave up the confidence and funding to get our company started.”

Interested in creating new styles in cultural wear, Nsibambi has been working on her clothing line for over a year. At MCC, she is able to make a career change and learn more about herself on a professional and personal level. Her professor encouraged her to get involved with the Pitch Contest, which has provided the “fuel to keep going.”

“I took immense value from this experience,” Nsibambi said. “The first one is the fact that I can do hard things that are out of my comfort zone and on the other side be just okay. I also value the new information I gained about starting a business. As I continue in my journey in business, I feel more confident that I can pitch my idea and present my ideas to people. This experience really showed me what it takes, and I feel a little more prepared.”

Led by Sophan Smith, an external consultant with a background in entrepreneurship and program design, MCC’s Pitch Contest provided a multi-step process to build students’ skills. After completing an application process, selected students went through an orientation to learn expectations before presenting to the judges.

“The pitch contest is more than a competition, it is an experiential learning opportunity that fosters creativity, builds confidence, and strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystem at MCC,” Smith said. “By creating space for students to share ideas and take risks, this initiative aims to inspire the next generation of innovators and changemakers. Seeing the students grow throughout the process – from submitting applications to confidently presenting their ideas on stage – made the experience especially rewarding.”

The judges included Shawn Schiffer, Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager II, Salem Five Bank; Liam Skinner, Business Coordinator for the City of Lowell; and Sherri McCormack, MCC’s Dean of College Advancement. To support fairness and consistency, the judges followed an official rubric and evaluation process focused on six factors. Each finalist delivered a three-minute pitch followed by a question-and-answer session from the judges.

“The MCC Launch Your Business Pitch Contest showcases our students’ hard work and diligent planning in building their own business and taking the risk,” McCormack said. “The contest is competitive and considers the viability of their business in the real world. Participants not only gain a bit of seed money to assist their venture, but also valuable insight into what owning your own business may actually entail. It also provides the judges and MCC faculty and staff with an opportunity to work with our students to build their confidence, self-esteem, and business prowess."