Winning Plans

March 07, 2013

The winners of the Baiada Institute’s Business Plan Concept competition, open to students from across the University, and the Nina Henderson Challenge, open exclusively to Westphal students, have been announced. In the Laurence Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship competition, Westphal students have made the College proud winning First Place and a $1000 award for Brian Gitlin for Mechination, and Third Place and a $250 award for Sean Legnini for Aid Arcade.

The four winning entries for the Concept Phase of the 2013 Nina Henderson Challenge were chosen from a total of 39 original business ideas submitted by Westphal students from the Arts Administration, Design & Merchandising, Digital Media, Fashion Design, Interior Architecture & Design, and Music Industry programs.

Congratulations to the Westphal students behind these entrepreneurial ideas. Sean Legnini, Arts Administration, proposed Aid Arcade, which harnesses the power of play to create positive global change, connecting charities and video games to support worthy causes, creating a community of gamers committed to social good. Brian Gitlin, Digital Media, won for his proposal for Mechination, a twin-stick action game that revolves around online mech combat and customization. Victoria Powers and Katherine LaVoie, Music Industry students, were recognized for Show Stopper, a mobile check-in app for concerts. And, Tyrone Corpuz, Christa Gabert, and Brielle Sanders, Design & Merchandising students, were recognized for Out of Hand, which approaches nail care in an innovative way by offering 20-minute in-office manicures on location at workplaces in Philadelphia.

The next phase of both the Henderson and Baiada competitions calls for the submission of complete business plans. Over $6,000 will be offered in prize monies and we strongly encourage students to consider participating. Submissions must be in by April 22nd and detailed guidelines and instructions can be found here.