By Deniece Griffin | Photography by: Donovan Mitchell
On Friday, Feb. 9 the University Edition of First Pitch Friday arrived at Georgia State University and brought students from neighboring campuses to pitch their business ventures. Known as a monthly event hosted in collaboration with Dr. Noze Best, Startup Atlanta, Venture Atlanta, TiE University, The Atlanta College Startup Alliance and The Hatchery, Emory Center for Innovation, this edition at Georgia State did not disappoint. The purpose of First Pitch Friday is to provide student founders from historically marginalized communities an opportunity to pitch live and receive immediate feedback from prominent venture capital investors throughout the Southeast.
We heard dynamic pitches from four student startups from Georgia State and the University of Georgia.
Aayats (GSU) – Aaron Kelly & Keylem Collier | Aayatas is a digital marketplace where artists can buy services key to the song creation process from industry professionals.
Happy Stories (UGA) – Manu Pareek | Happy Stories is a digital storytelling platform that unleashes the imagination and create happy stories. Visit their website to find out more.
Tapestry Media (GSU) – William P. James | Tapestry Media focuses on providing impact consulting for entertainers, artists, and media companies.
Yanie Eyewear (GSU) – Tatyana Langford | Yanie Eyewear is a stylish and innovative eyewear for dry eye disease.
Four distinguished judges, all local venture capital investors provided real-time and follow-up feedback to the student startups:
- Baheejah Crumbley – investor, Collab Capital
- Steven Lustig – president, Atlanta Technology Angels
- Anastasia Simon – investment principal, Techstars Ventures
- Jennifer Whitlow, head of community partnerships, Fusen World
Local venture capital investors provided real-time feedback.
The event was intentionally structured to incorporate feedback not only from the judges but also from the audience, focusing on six key criteria: opportunity assessment, value proposition, operational management credibility, financial understanding, viability of success, and effectiveness of presentation delivery.
After the presentations, the votes reflecting these criteria were tallied to decide the recipients of both the Judges’ and the People’s Choice awards. Aayats emerged as the winner of both, garnering recognition from both the judges and the audience.
Many thanks to all who participated from the student entrepreneurs, judges and audience to make this First Pitch Friday: University Edition at Georgia State a success.
The next pitch session will take place at the Center for Black Entrepreneurship on Feb. 23. To sign-up or get more information, visit firstpitchfriday.com.
