CBUS Annual Business Pitch & Poster Competition Is a Huge Success
May 12, 2026
The Center for Entrepreneurship at MSU Denver’s College of Business once again celebrated the creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of its students during the Spring 2026 Business Pitch & Poster Competition. With an incredible turnout from students, faculty, alumni, mentors, and community supporters, this semester’s competition proved that entrepreneurship continues to thrive at CBUS.
This spring, 17 students submitted pitch videos for consideration, with five finalists advancing to present live at the competition and four additional students participating in the poster competition. Together, the event awarded $5,500 in cash prizes along with eight hours of coaching from returning judge Aaron LaPedis. Finalists also received over an hour of personalized coaching from entrepreneurship faculty and SCORE mentors leading up to the competition.
More than 65 attendees gathered to support the competitors and celebrate student innovation. The event also highlighted community collaboration by supporting both an alumni-owned business, Konjo Ethiopian, and a student-owned business, Simple Sweetness Desserts.
We were proud to celebrate this year’s finalists:
1- Sophia Baldwin, presenting: Fable and Fur
2- Adam Nakamura & Aaron Vasquez, presenting: 5280 Clearout
3- Maksym Shkilov, presenting: Biz Games
4- Madina Amiri, presenting: Gulya Fashion
5- Rae L., presenting: Thrive Coaching
Our first-place winner was Madina Amiri, whose business Gulya Fashion impressed both the judges and audience with its powerful mission and meaningful impact. Through her business, Madina aims to blend cultural heritage with modern fashion while creating economic opportunities for talented women and girls in Afghanistan who are currently denied access to education and work. Her confidence, passion, and dedication to making a difference through entrepreneurship made her presentation truly unforgettable. Not only that but after she presented her pitch, people lined up to try on her clothes. Madina won the grand prize along with coaching support from judge Aaron LaPedis.
“This experience means a lot to me, and I’m truly grateful for everyone who supported me along the way. Special thanks to Adam Melnick, Becky Prater, and Kathy Cohen for your mentorship and guidance throughout this journey. Thank you as well to Luis Toscano for encouraging me to take this step and participate, and to the judges for believing in my idea.
My business, Gulya Fashion, is focused on bringing culture and modern style together in a meaningful way through high-quality designs. More importantly, it aims to create economic opportunities for talented women and girls in Afghanistan who are currently denied access to education and work.
This achievement reminds me that hard work truly pays off. MSU Denver has been a place where I’ve been able to grow, take risks, and turn ideas into reality, thank you to the Center for Entrepreneurship and the College of Business for investing in students like me.”
Our second-place winner was Maksym Shkilov, whose business concept, Biz Games, captured attention with its creative and engaging approach to entrepreneurship education and entertainment. By combining elements of business strategy with interactive gameplay, Maksym demonstrated how learning and innovation can come together in a fun and impactful way. His enthusiasm, originality, and strong presentation skills impressed both the judges and audience alike. Maksym earned second place along with coaching support from judge Aaron LaPedis to continue developing his entrepreneurial vision.
Our third-place winner was Sophia Baldwin, whose business Fable and Fur touched both the judges and audience with its heartfelt and deeply personal mission. Sophia creates custom stuffed animals inspired by beloved pets that have passed away, giving owners a meaningful keepsake they can hold onto forever. Through custom designs and thoughtful craftsmanship, Fable and Fur helps preserve cherished memories while offering comfort and connection to pet owners. Sophia’s creativity, compassion, and entrepreneurial vision made her presentation especially memorable. She earned third place along with coaching support from judge Aaron LaPedis to continue growing her business.
Our fourth-place winner was Rae L., whose business Thrive Coaching focused on supporting busy, career-driven women who are looking for guidance, balance, and personal support in their everyday lives. Through coaching and mentorship, Rae aims to create a space where women can feel encouraged, empowered, and supported while navigating the challenges of demanding work schedules and personal growth. Rae’s thoughtful presentation and passion for helping others resonated strongly with both the judges and audience. Rae earned fourth place along with coaching support from judge Aaron LaPedis to further strengthen and expand the business.
Our Poster Competition winners were Adam Nakamura and Aaron Vasquez, whose business 5280 Clearout impressed attendees with its professionalism, strong visual presentation, and practical service-focused business model. Their company focuses on handling the tough “garbage” work in construction that many crews and contractors do not want to take on, including cleanouts, debris removal, and labor-intensive job site services. Their business showcased strong teamwork, determination, and a clear understanding of an important industry need within the construction community. Adam and Aaron demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial drive throughout the competition and earned the Poster Winner award along with coaching support from judge Aaron LaPedis to continue growing their business.
We were proud to welcome this year’s judges, whose experience, mentorship, and encouragement helped make this competition an inspiring experience for all participants.
Our four incredible judges as pictured above are:
1- John Montaña
John is the Principal at the Montaña Group and brought valuable business insight and professional expertise to this year’s competition. His experience and support helped provide students with meaningful feedback and encouragement throughout the event.
2- Aaron LaPedis
Aaron is a bestselling author of The Garage Sale Millionaire and a public speaker known for inspiring entrepreneurs and business owners through his expertise and mentorship. Returning once again as a judge, Aaron also provided coaching hours for student winners to help support their entrepreneurial journeys beyond the competition.
3- Chennelle Diong
Chennelle is the CEO and founder of the gluten-free CPG brand GoodLove Foods. She successfully secured funding for her business after pitching on the television show Shark Tank ABC, making her entrepreneurial experience especially impactful for this year’s student competitors.
4- Luis Toscano
Luis is the owner of Mobile Glow Detailing LLC and the winner of the Fall 2025 Business Pitch & Poster Competition. Returning this semester as a judge, Luis represented the continued success and growth of student entrepreneurs at MSU Denver while inspiring this year’s finalists to pursue their own business goals.
As we reflect on this semester’s Business Pitch & Poster Competition, we are reminded of the incredible creativity, resilience, and passion that our student entrepreneurs bring to the College of Business. Each participant shared more than just a business idea, they shared personal stories, meaningful missions, and visions for how they hope to make a difference in their communities and industries. From supporting women in Afghanistan through fashion, to helping busy professionals feel empowered, to preserving the memory of beloved pets, these businesses showed how entrepreneurship can create both innovation and impact.
This event would not have been possible without the support of our judges, mentors, faculty, alumni, and community members who continue to invest their time, encouragement, and expertise into the next generation of entrepreneurs. Their guidance helps create an environment where students feel empowered to take risks, grow their ideas, and build confidence in themselves as future business leaders.
We are incredibly proud of every student who participated in this competition, whether they pitched live, presented a poster, or submitted an application. Your dedication, courage, and entrepreneurial spirit represent the very best of CBUS and MSU Denver. We cannot wait to see where your ideas take you next.
Support comes from MSU Denver’s College of Business, offering flexible programs with real‑world projects and support. Committed to empowering graduates to lead, solve, and inspire.
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