By Jana Hassan, student writer
Two Michigan State University student-founded businesses, BRCĒ & CocoMar, took home the 1st and 2nd place prizes respectively at The Hatching Pitch Competition during 517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week.
As part of 517 E&I Week, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) hosted their annual Hatching Pitch Competition where entrepreneurs in surrounding and local counties pitch their business ideas to an audience, receiving valuable feedback from experienced judges and cash prizes.
BRCĒ, co-founded by MSU students Tanvi Gadamsetti and Madhav Aggarwal, is a material-tech startup developing an ecosystem of athletic performance gear and safety accessories to support athletes in performance and recovery, as well as industrial use cases. Carter Louisell represented BRCĒ and took home the first place prize of $5,000 after being recognized for its innovative approach to enhancing athletic safety and performance.
Fatima Taha is co-founder of CocoMar a premium ready-to-drink protein smoothie brand that blends real fruits with coconut water to deliver delicious, nutrient-packed hydration and complete protein for a healthy, active lifestyle. Representing them at the competition, Fatima earned CocoMar second place and secured a cash prize of $2,500, impressing judges with its unique product and potential for market impact.
Both CocoMar and BRCĒ continue to exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit fostered at Michigan State University, demonstrating the creativity and drive of Spartan innovators.
About the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is the destination where students launch high-impact, entrepreneurial journeys at Michigan State University. The Burgess Institute empowers students to learn through action by providing global mentors, courses, seed funding, entrepreneurship competitions, student organizations, resources, and campus-wide co-working spaces.