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True to its approach to real-world education, �鶹��Ժgives students the chance to grow and think outside the box. Each spring, both campuses host �鶹��ԺSharkFest, which is a Shark Tank-style competition where students have just five minutes to pitch their business ideas and field questions from judges who have experience with entrepreneurship and/or work at local businesses. Students of all majors are invited to participate.

Charlotte Campus �鶹��ԺSharkFest

With much excitement, Charlotte’s �鶹��ԺSharkFest returned after a 3-year hiatus related to the pandemic.

Judging Panel

• Spencer Disher, adjunct professor and board member, NC Idea
• Manwell Bynum, head of business acceleration, Atrium Health
• Mary Meixell, dean, College of Business, Johnson & Wales

First Place: A Winning Solution to Kids’ Healthy Eating

First-place winner Aneelia Ma ’23 pitched an idea for “Neelia’s,” a local healthy cooking service for kids and their families. She proposed the business in three phases, which would allow her to grow the brand and increase revenue. A Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship student, Ma learned the importance of healthy eating from her parents and from working with local schools. She saw an opportunity to change children’s nutrition to ensure they’re getting what they need to grow into healthy adults.

Ma hopes to bring her business to the Charlotte community with family cooking classes, a locally sourced café, and a presence at local farmers’ markets. For the future, Ma even proposed a camp-like service that would pick kids up from their schools and take them to a cooking space to learn about healthy eating.

Second place: Wine Education for Novice Enthusiasts

Cody Snider ’23 came in second place for his visionary wine company, “Grapes Cellar, LLC”. This Charleston-based business is more than an average wine store. Snider, an Entrepreneurship major and Sommelier Management minor, wants to help educate those who might not know a lot about wine and provide customers with reasonably priced options.

Grapes Cellar’s price range would start at $8 and would have a space to host educational classes, events and brands that would otherwise go unnoticed. Snider wants their classes and tastings to help change the conversation around the ideal wine drinker and educate customers on different types of wine and trends within the industry. 

Third Place: An App for Checking Out What to Do in Charlotte

Business Administration major Destin Hemingway ’23 came in third place for his idea, “IndaCity.” His business will provide recommendations on the best dining, nightlife and outings in Charlotte. He came up with the idea as a student who was always looking for things to do and not being able to find updated information online. He wants the app to provide the dress code, admission price, hours of operation and menus. He plans for college students and young people in cities such as Charlotte to be his target market.

Hemingway has tested his app, idea and pricing model on classmates. “James Woods helped me directly because I went through everything I pitched in his Entrepreneurship Seminar course," said Hemingway. "I think most classes I have taken helped me in some way. To be more specific, the entrepreneurship and marketing classes I have taken in the last four semesters.”

Finalist: A One-Stop Beauty Bar

The final presenter, Business Administration major Keyarie Robinson ‘23 pitched her idea, “Lipstick on a Glass,” a one-stop shop beauty bar that provides nail, hair, spa, makeup, styling and photography services. The shop would also offer services for weddings, proms, and other special events. Her staff would include estheticians, beauticians, massage therapists and stylists hired from the Charlotte area to provide great services.

Robinson’s interest in this idea started in high school, where she received her cosmetology license. “I&#