Academics

Team of PSU Smeal students wins 2017 Supply Chain Entrepreneurship Pitch Contest

Team DropLocker, a group of four students from the Penn State Smeal College of Business, produced the winning pitch in the recent 2017 Supply Chain Entrepreneurship Pitch Contest. The first-place finish earned the team $6,500 in prize money and an audience with Penn State President Eric Barron. Pictured above, from left to right, are Cameron Stevens, Tasha Burman, President Barron, Karen Burlingame, and Yue Shen. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

The Penn State Smeal College of Business 2017 Supply Chain Entrepreneurship Pitch Contest drew 26 submissions from seven different Penn State campuses: Abington, Altoona, Berks, Harrisburg, Lehigh Valley, Worthington Scranton and University Park.

A team of four Smeal students — Cameron Stevens, senior finance, economics, and international politics triple major; Karen Burlingame, senior supply chain and information systems; Yue Shen, senior supply chain and information systems; and Tasha Burman, sophomore business — calling themselves Team DropLocker, was selected as the winner and awarded $6,500.

The 26 submissions were pared down to eight in a virtual elimination round of two-minute videos judged by Smeal faculty members Shawn Clark, Travis Lesser, Dave Lenze, Robert Novack and Steve Tracey to determine the top four teams to compete in the face-to-face final round.

The virtual elimination round and the final round, judged by representatives from the corporate contest sponsors, ranked the teams on the following criteria: market opportunity, product/service originality, presentation quality, product/service viability, applicability to supply chain management, and attracts investors/financing.

Team DropLocker’s idea revolved around a third-party package distribution solution for companies that don’t have the economies of scale to justify in-house development of a system like Amazon’s. An Amazon Pick-up Point is a centralized public location that allows consumers to pick up packages in exchange for reduced shipping rates.

Second place and $4,500 went to Team NuntAgri, comprised of three computer science majors and an information sciences and technology major from Penn State Harrisburg. Two University Park students, mechanical engineering and toxicology majors called Team Sicuro Innovations LLC, teamed up to win third place and $1,500.

The top three teams were also invited to participate in the Penn State Startup Week President’s Showcase and Reception at Pegula Ice Arena. Each team presented a two-to-five-minute pitch to university leadership, faculty, and guests during an informal reception and were recognized in President Barron’s address.

CSCR Corporate Sponsor UPS invited all four final teams to compete in a national entrepreneurship pitch contest for a $10,000 prize.

The fourth-place team, Team Enactus, was comprised of one junior supply chain and information systems major and three engineering students. While Team Enactus didn’t earn any prize money, it was approached by a corporate guest who invited the team to present their pitch to corporate leadership.

Smeal’s Center for Supply Chain Research (CSCR™) and the Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship co-hosted the event.

The 2017 Supply Chain Entrepreneurship Pitch Contest was sponsored by the following CSCR Corporate Sponsors: CHAINalytics, Dow, KANE is Able, Lansdale Warehouse, Rockwell Automation, Walmart and Wegmans.

Last Updated May 5, 2017

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