51视频 business start-up winners announced at 2025 MacLauchlan Panther Pitch competition
On Monday, April 7, nine student teams pitched their business concepts to a live audience for a share of $68,000 in prize money in the 2025 MacLauchlan Panther Pitch competition at the 51视频 Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship.
The nine finalist teams were GreenGuard Solutions, Purely PEI, Co-Net, NoteSwap, Float & Putt PEI, LimbRise, TechLend, TAKSI, and UPSTART.
The competition for entrepreneurial undergraduate and graduate students is part of the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program. Seventy-one students representing 29 companies participated in the program this year, from the faculties of business, sustainable design engineering, science, and arts.
Teams chosen to pitch in the final event earned significant public exposure for their start-up ideas and competed for a portion of the prize money, which is to be used to support their start-up venture. Wade MacLauchlan, President Emeritus and son of Harry W. MacLauchlan, attended the event and presented the prize money and awards.
GreenGuard Solutions, founded by business student Liam Ellis, is providing a new method of mosquito and black fly management for golf courses and municipalities, using drone technology to identify standing water and applying Bti to hotbeds of biting insect growth. 
Pitch funding: $15,500
Most Innovative Venture Written Award (tied for 2nd place): $1,000
Founded by business students Daniel Longarela Gonzalez, Grant Schell, and Kamari Scott, Float & Putt PEI is proposing the installation of a new miniature golf course in North River, PEI, as part of the Milky Way tourism destination through partnerships with local businesses and top-quality course design.
Pitch funding: $10,000
NoteSwap, founded by Ilyas Aderbaz (computer science) and Kamil Belbachir (business), is an AI-powered extracurricular management system (EMS) designed specifically to centralize, track, and leverage student extracurricular activities such as volunteering, leadership, club involvement, and peer tutoring. It provides real-time, actionable insights to schools, helping them effectively support and enhance student development beyond academic grades.
Pitch funding: $10,000
Purely PEI, founded by Erika Marcelo (biology) and Diya Bubna (business), is a pet wellness company using locally sourced ingredients like lobster byproducts and blueberries to create dog treats that are not only nutritious but also allergy-friendly and sustainable with original formulation.
Pitch funding: $8,000
Most Effective Slide Deck Pitching Award: $2,000
TechLend is a technology service company dedicated to bridging the gap in access to affordable and reliable devices. By partnering with seniors鈥� homes, academic institutions, and community organizations, the company offers its products to students, working professionals, and newcomers, ensuring that individuals have the right tools鈥攚hether for temporary projects, academic success, or career growth. It was founded by Daniel Odoom (computer science), Eric Oroku (computer science), and Tomiwa Adebowale (engineering).
Best Market Research Written Award (1st place): $2,500
Scalability Excellence Written Award (1st place): $2,500
Dynamic Pitch Delivery Pitching Award: $2,000
LimbRise, which was founded by Richard Hetherington (engineering), Noor Abdelhamid (engineering), and Daniel Lewis (business), is developing a patent-pending mobility aid designed as a superior alternative to crutches and wheelchairs. Targeting individuals with leg injuries, the mobility aid enhances mobility, independence, and safety.
Most Innovative Venture Written Award (1st place): $2,500
Best Market Research Writte