A company that sells customized cycling apparel is the winner of UT’s 2013 Vol Court session.
Jordan Humble, a senior in global politics and economics and founder of Privateer Cycling Apparel, claimed first place.
The second-place winner was Alex Adams, a junior in mechanical engineering. Adams’ company, Adams Innovation LLC, designs, imports, and distributes leisure hammocks under the name Xada.
Vol Court is an entrepreneurial education series that ends with a competition among aspiring entrepreneurs for cash prizes to launch their business. The series is held both in the fall and spring and is open to students, faculty, and the general public.
Humble received $1,000 to launch his business, space at the UT Research Foundation (UTRF) business incubator, consulting services from Pershing Yoakley and Associates, and mentoring from the UT College of Business Administration’s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI)—a prize package worth more than $5,000.
He will use the prize money to pay for local service providers who are helping with his business. Vol Court was the first entrepreneurial program in which he has participated, he said.
“I have learned from experience that it is so important to get the foundation of your business set, and Vol Court teaches you how to go about building that foundation,” he said.
Adams received $500, space in the UTRF business incubator, and mentoring from ACEI. He will use the money for advertising, improving his website, insurance, and defraying shipping costs associated with the initial order of hammocks.
Seven teams competed during the Vol Court pitch session, which was held on March 12 in the James A. Haslam II Business Building.
The other participants in Vol Court and their ideas were:
- Andrew Busa, a senior in sports management, with a web application to manage fantasy sports teams
- Zachary King, a sophomore in management, with an at-home personal training service
- Kathy McLain, one of the general public participants, with an aquaponics system to produce fish and vegetables
- Stephanie Pollock, a senior in mechanical engineering, with a digital media system that provides a “window to the world” for windowless rooms
- Emily Skaar, a senior in logistics, with a website that helps people with gift giving in an easy and timely manner
- Kevin White, a freshman in business analytics, with an on-campus cleaning service for students
Each team was given five minutes to pitch its business idea to a panel of judges that included current and former entrepreneurs and an investment banker. The judges had two minutes to ask questions of each team.
Vol Court is sponsored by ACEI, UT Federal Credit Union, Pershing Yoakley and Associates, Morehouse Legal Group, Tennessee Alumnus magazine, and the UT Research Foundation.
For more information on Vol Court, visit the Anderson Center website.
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C O N T A C T :
Joy Fisher (865-974-0520, joy.fisher@utk.edu)