Startup Pitch Competition is the Final Test for Technology Management MBA students

Capstone event puts six student teams in front of alumni and faculty judges at the Foster School of Business

The final class for students in the University of Washington Foster Technology Management MBA was their Startup Pitch Competition on May 29, 2024, just days before their graduation on June 3, 2024.

After 18 months of a rigorous Technology Management MBA program focused on technology, entrepreneurship and innovation, it all came together for students at the University of Washington. It was their final evening together as students at the high-stakes, high-energy and high-fun Pitch Competition.

The capstone event on May 29, 2024, pitted six teams against one another from the Foster School of Business Technology Management MBA (TMMBA) program. After spending the last two quarters developing a startup from the ground up, students put their teamwork to the test both in the boardroom and on the tradeshow floor at the competition. Winning teams for the Class of 2024 are:

Boardroom Winner: Kickflip

Kickflip is a mobile platform built specifically for 18- to 30-year-olds.

Kickflip, a mobile platform built specifically for 18- to 30-year-olds, where they can discover, share, and create extraordinary experiences using the kind of autoplay, short-form videos they love on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Tradeshow Winner: QBComb

QBComb offers private, quiet, and conveniently located workspace pods for rent by the hour.

QBComb, which offers private, quiet, and conveniently located workspace pods for rent by the hour, perfect for remote workers and busy professionals who need a productive space while on the go.

“Congratulations to the winning teams, KickFlip and QBComb and to all the teams for their hard work and dedication,” said Lisa Hjorten, Affiliate Instructor of Entrepreneurship at the Foster School of Business. Hjorten has been with them the entire way as their instructor and as one of the judges of the competition. “They certainly raised the bar for future cohorts and inspire me to continue to teach the Technology Management MBA’s Entrepreneurial Influence and the Pitch.”

Participating teams included:

BabyTalk provides new parents with a tool to decipher their baby’s cries.

BabyTalk, which revolutionizes parenthood by providing new parents with a powerful tool to decipher their baby’s cries through cutting-edge technology and personalized insights.

Security Sidekick (by Identerie) is a conversational AI assistant for cybersecurity professionals.

Security Sidekick (by Identerie), a cutting-edge conversational AI assistant for cybersecurity professionals, designed to neutralize digital identity-based threats and significantly reduce resolution times.

PopinKare connects families with trusted childcare professionals instantly.

PopinKare, which connects families with the most trusted childcare professionals instantly with secure, on-demand booking. “With PopinKare, quality childcare isn’t just close — it’s immediate.”

Whimsy offers parents a centralized source for booking educational extracurricular activities for their children.

Whimsy, an app that provides parents with a centralized, trusted source for discovering and booking quality educational extracurricular activities for their children.

The judges included Technology Management MBA faculty and alumni, many of whom have gone on to create their own startups.

“I was impressed by how much progress the teams made on their Angel Investor pitches since our last class session less than two weeks prior,” Hjorten said. “I loved the tradeshow booths which also allowed them to display their business ideas in new and even more creative ways.”

Learn more about the Technology Management MBA here.