Irvine Valley College (IVC) celebrated another successful year of its 4th Annual Idea Pitch Competition in November, drawing creative talent and entrepreneurial spirit from across the campus. The two-round competition challenged students to pitch innovative product or service ideas, resulting in over 50 submissions from more than 12 different disciplines. The competition kicked off with students submitting 60-second video pitches that outlined the problems they aimed to solve, their creative solutions, and target customers. The top 12 finalists were then selected to advance to a virtual first round, where they delivered 3-minute presentations complete with slide decks. This unique round featured a dynamic format where three industry mentors—Michael Sawitz, David Ochi, and Jeff Greenberg—competed to build their teams of student entrepreneurs. Over the next three weeks, the mentors worked closely with their teams to refine their pitches in preparation for the final round.
The final competition took place live at IVC's new Arts Village and drew an audience of students, faculty, administrators, families, industry leaders, and even the Mayor of Irvine. Four esteemed judges—Brian Arnold (CFO, K-1 Packaging), Don Voss (Partner, Sigma Analytics), Catlin Tran (Founder, Nutripair), and Cynthia West (Director, Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship at Chapman University)—evaluated the students' pitches, which showcased creativity and entrepreneurial ingenuity.
The winners of this year’s competition were:
- 1st Place: Chloe Dalmacio, a dual-enrollment student from Beckman High School, earned $1,000 for her app that connects high school students with nonprofit volunteer opportunities.
- 2nd Place: Tiffany Yang received $500 for her innovative anime-themed clothing brand.
- 3rd Place: Leo Maffey, a dual-enrollment student at Foothill High School, took home $250 for his inflatable wrist pillow designed for travelers.
In addition to their cash prizes, all three winners received over $2,000 in in-kind donations, including mentorship and professional services to help bring their entrepreneurial ideas to life. IVC’s Idea Pitch Competition continues to highlight the college’s commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and real-world problem-solving among its students. The event not only celebrates emerging ideas but also builds vital connections between students and industry leaders, further solidifying IVC’s role as a hub for entrepreneurial development in the community.
Learn more about IVC's Entrepreneurship program »