Three Hamilton students who developed a Home Energy Assessment Tool (H.E.A.T.) won the grand prize at the eighth annual Pitch Competition. The team of Anna Mowat ’18, Ash Khan ’17 and Leo Kell ’17 generated an algorithm, accessible by smartphone app, with a 90% accuracy rate. The formula helps homeowners reduce their energy bill without hiring inspectors.
The Pitch Competition, held April 7 – 9, allowed Hamilton students and Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) to network with and receive mentoring from entrepreneurs and investors. Participants improved their pitch presentations, learned how to build capital and developed a profitable concept.
Michael Fawcett ’66, Hedy Foreman and Natasha Householder ’83 returned as judges, while previous winners, Nile Berry ’14 and Sam Matlick ’17, joined the panel.
Berry, last year’s winner, argues that this competition “is one of the most hidden gems of this entire school.”
Matlick, winner of the fourth pitch competition, also attests to its benefits. “I see this competition as pretty much the best 72-hour weekend you can spend on campus,” he said.
After a day’s worth of one-on-one mentoring, and the assistance of advisers four finalists presented their pitches Sunday morning.
As Mowat explained in the winning pitch, the group aimed to “bring this academic and physics model into the commercial world.”
The team received a GoPro, one year of services and a $2,500 cash prize from Meacham Woodfield, LLC, and legal services from McCarter & English, LLP.
Second place went to Sadiq Abubakar ’15 for TRUtailored, a company designed to facilitate communication and efficiency between customers and Nigerian tailors. “The idea was born out of a need to create opportunity,” he said. “There are a lot of people who need this service.”
Abubakar received $11,000 in coaching services from Hamilton Growth Partners LLC, a GoPro and a $1,000 cash prize, from Meacham Woodfield, LLC.
The third-place finalist was Arthur Williams ’16 for EmanciEarth, a Jamaican ginger company that manages interactions between ginger farmers and buyers from a growing market interested in using ginger.
Williams can opt for a time management coaching course from Hamilton Growth Partners LLC and received a GoPro.
The judges also reward a competitor who may not have placed, but still deserves recognition.
Jed Kass ’16 received the Best of the Rest award for his app Gathering, which helps customers more easily compile their photos into a single platform. Kass received a wireless speaker and a gift card.
The judges, some of whom are in their eighth year on the panel, see vast development each year and commend the participants for their progress over just a couple of days.
“We all remarked this year on how extraordinarily good all the pitches have been and the improvement in the quality that we’ve seen,” Fawcett said. “Everybody is now living up to the standard that Sam and Nile established some time ago.”
