To cap off their Executive MBA journey, students face one final challenge: working in teams to combine their business acumen and execute an innovative entrepreneurial idea at a pitch competition.
The annual pitch competition is styled after the show Shark Tank. Teams present their product or service idea, identify the target market and customer appeal, outline the financials and projected return on investment, and showcase product prototypes.
The final milestone brings together students from both EMBA program formats: the traditional format with in-person classes in East Lansing or Troy, and the hybrid format with monthly in-person meetings. Students pitch their entrepreneurial ideas in front of peers, faculty, friends and family.
The winning idea at the Class of 2025 Pitch Competition on April 12 was Snap Cap, a line of hats that can be customized through various miniature attachable icons that seamlessly snap on. Targeting Generation Alpha, the idea drew on the widespread popularity of Crocs among kids.
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Snap Cap team members Simon Somerset, Ramana Mudeganti, Lukasz Walilko, Emily Locklear and Anne Carpenter show off their prototype and first-place memorabilia.
Carpenter (right) highlights the seemingly endless possibilities to customize your Snap Cap during the final round of the pitch competition.
“We were thinking about Crocs and how versatile they are,” Anne Carpenter, a member of the winning team, said. “We know from our research Generation Alpha likes to collect things and show their personal style. Snap Cap allows them to adapt the snap on their hat or headband, make their outfit their own, and stand out to speak to who they uniquely are.”
Carpenter and her teammates Emily Locklear, Lukasz Walilko, Simon Somerset, and Ramana Mudeganti are from the Troy cohort. They built out the idea for Snap Cap in PIM 832, the class attached to the pitch competition. PIM 832 helps students develop an entrepreneurial mindset through studying ideation, business model creation, and market assessment. EMBA students’ work in this class directly informs their idea and execution for the pitch competition.
“One of the helpful things from our classroom learnings was an in-depth understanding of the go-to-market strategy,” said Carpenter. “We learned a lot about where to market and how to target key audiences within our classes. We did a lot of research on Generation Alpha and aligned our marketing to a digital strategy that coincides with their high usage of streaming services.”
Other finalists from the Class of 2025 include Lily, a portable lid resembling a lily pad with UV-C sterilization capabilities that offers a universal solution for sterilizing any water bottle or cup. Another finalist, Refined Rocks, creates an elevated ice experience for craft cocktail enthusiasts seeking luxury, crystal-clear ice on demand.
As part of the competition, program alumni returned to judge student presentations and select the three finalists. Those finalists delivered their final presentation to all event attendees. Students then vote to determine the winning pitch.
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Many Executive MBA alumni return to help judge the first round of the pitch competition. Teams of alumni are spread throughout breakout rooms to hear pitches from the entire EMBA Class of 2025. The pitch competition is more than a final assignment. It’s a celebration of the powerful teamwork that defines the Broad EMBA program. As students take the stage one last time, the competition marks a fitting finale to their transformative journey of leadership, innovation, teamwork, and global learning — lessons designed to carry far beyond the classroom.
To see more photos from the event, see the Broad Flickr album.
