University of Alabama students once again impressed the judges during the 2025 River Pitch competition, where West Alabama entrepreneurs shared over 60 unique business ideas. Twelve booths were set up based on topic, and each team presented a three-minute pitch to a panel of judges at their respective booth.
The highly anticipated annual competition awarded 12 first-place prizes worth $1,000. New this year, a $250 prize was awarded for second place.
UA Students’ Winning Teams
Supporta: Sophie Herrera, Noah McAdams
Quantum Stake: Noah Luttrell, Luke Shorrock
Refraction: Meghan Kellem
Foodie: Micah Graham and Gaven Lorenzo
Plenty: Serena O’Brien
SolSistr: Evan Childers, August Connors and Weston Poff
The Petition Company: Samuel Underhill
Painted Truth: Grace Bartels and Morea Quick
WellNexx – Next Generation of Wellness: Arianah Lomnick and Josie Whitehead
OpenHydro: Savalan Naser Neisary
MoCura: Kate Manning and Christopher Moehlenpah
Testimonial Tees: Sam Engellant
Zero-Gravity Rig: Sean Abercrombie, Elanor Asuncion-Crabb, Hunter Matthews, Jesse Park and Willow Walsh
Rapid Wheel Cover: Sandra Onyishi and Aaron Sharp
OffGrid: Walter Haakenson
RoomiCheck: Sandra Onyishi and Aruzhan Shynarbek
Shop Ahead: David Camick (UA faculty/staff), Daniel Douglas and Shelbe Yousey
Auto-IMEC: Gregory Allen
UA Faculty/Staff Winning Pitches
LumiD – A Vitamin D Tracker: Sushma Kotru
Memory for Privacy: Na Gong
Manufacturing of Flexible Solar Modules by Printing: Dawen Li
The Rising Legends Program: Kayla Lawson and Sandra Onyishi (UA student)
Community Winning Pitches
Big Daddy Sauces and Catering: Dwayne Thompson
Santina Fitness Health and Wellness: Lorenza James and Tykenya Reid
Learn more about the River Pitch competition by visiting the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute website.