After making it through three rounds of the Baker Business Bowl IX and working on their business plan, one team has claimed victory — and a $10,000 check.
Team Landsformer took first place with their business plan of creating a solar-powered, self-driving lawnmower. This team, made up of Mechanical Engineering majors, is one step closer to developing a cost-effective version that will utilize solar-powered batteries, proximity sensors and a boundary system. This idea started out as a senior design project, and through the knowledge and skills they’ve gained at The Citadel, developed into a full business plan. Lt. Gen. Fran Beaudette, U.S. Army (Ret.), ’89, presented the winning team with the check at the awards ceremony.
“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to present our idea and business to the judges involved in the Baker Business Bowl. We’re also thankful for The Citadel’s Mechanical Engineering department for their support throughout the entire process, and their help in pushing us further through each step,” said Cadet Chase Nugnes. ” We hope that the $10,000 award not only serves as a vote of confidence from the judges, but also as a reminder of our obligations as engineers to serve the people.”
Members of Team Landsformer included:
- David Abernathy
- William Howl
- Chase Nugnes
- Jacob Proctor
- Adger Vanadore
The second place team, Patriot Goalie, walked away with $5,000 to put towards their business idea that aims to create handcrafted, quality hockey equipment that will have sizeable pad leaf inserts that can be adjusted as a player grows. This team’s end goal is to lower the costs of hockey equipment through made-to–order, sizeable gear that is still protective. Clayton Tovo, a one-man team, was presented with the check from Joe Conti, one of the judges for this year’s BBB.
In the first round of the BBB, teams submitted an application that consisted of a team and business idea information form. Round two consisted of the eleven advancing teams giving an elevator pitch to a team of judges, who then determined who moved on to the final round. This final round included four teams giving a full business plan – including marketing, pricing, production strategies and other relevant business details – through a professional presentation. Cadets, undergraduate students and graduate students can participate in the Baker Business Bowl.
The other finalists for the BBB IX were Team ARMA Motors and Team FarmHand.
This year’s panel of judges included:
- Fran Beaudette, ’89
- Joe Conti
- Herbert Drayton III
- Gene King
- Cathey Petkash
- Richard Waring
This event is made possible through the generous donations of The Citadel Class of 1989, Jeff Cobb and Dan D. Nale, PE, ’82. To learn more about this program and the Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business, click here.
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