On December 5, 2024, the University of Montana Western Business Department hosted its inaugural campus-wide Business Idea Pitch Competition. The event stemmed from a pilot capstone course led by UMW business students Brody Connelly, Emma Day, Haylee Grytdal, and Rylie Halsell.
The competition invited students from various disciplines to present their business ideas in a “Shark Tank”-style format before an audience and a panel of three faculty judges. A total of 17 UMW students and two Montana Youth Challenge (MYC) student teams participated, competing for various awards.
Emma Day received the Audience Favorite award for her pitch, Rooted Table. James Carter won Most Creative Idea for his pitch, Zynding Machine. Brody Connelly was recognized as Most Charismatic for his pitch, Powerland Equipment and Repair. Cady Brown took home Best Overall Pitch for her idea, Grow Ag, an online employment resource connecting aspiring agriculture professionals with farmers and ranchers.
Each winner received a stipend and a gift certificate for the UMW Bookstore, while all participants received a certificate and a business plan book.
The competition emerged from a pilot venture capital capstone course designed to immerse students in entrepreneurship, business development, and venture capital through hands-on, project-based learning. Business majors Connelly, Day, Grytdal, and Halsell were invited by Associate Professors Rick Rochester and Brian England and Professor Christian Gilde to take part in the course.
“Our professors approached us about this pilot capstone project—something completely new on campus. We’re building a business plan and taking it to competitions, giving us real-world experience in entrepreneurship,” said Connelly.
Throughout the yearlong course, which began in fall 2024, the students developed a business plan to pitch at competitions hosted by other universities. With faculty mentorship, they refined their ideas and presentation skills, already earning $3,000 in funding from state-level competitions.
This spring, the team will compete at the John Ruffatto Startup Challenge at the University of Montana and an event at Washington State University, where they hope to secure additional funding and recognition.
Building on their own experiences, the team wanted to create opportunities for more UMW students to showcase their ideas. They organized workshops to help students from all disciplines develop their pitches, sharing insights they had gained through the capstone course and external competitions.
With funding from the University of Montana Western Foundation, the group successfully hosted the inaugural competition on December 5, marking a significant step in fostering entrepreneurship and cross-disciplinary collaboration at UMW.
“One of our biggest goals was to involve students from different majors. Business, education, agriculture—we wanted to bring people together and show that entrepreneurship applies to every field,” said Day.
Looking ahead, the group hopes this is just the beginning. They envision expanding the event to include local businesses and sponsors, creating even greater opportunities for students to develop practical skills and network with industry professionals.
“Dillon is a small town, but the business community here is incredibly supportive,” said Halsell. “We’ve had the chance to meet business owners, visit different facilities, and learn from real-world professionals. We want more students to experience that.”
With growing interest and institutional support, the Business Idea Pitch Competition has the potential to become a cornerstone event at UMW, empowering students to turn ideas into action and preparing them for success beyond the classroom.
For more information about Experience One and the University of Montana Western, or to schedule a tour, visit www.umwestern.edu or call 877-683-7331.
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