THE PROVING GROUND ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETITION

USC’s entrepreneurial contest

The Proving Ground in March 2022 awarded $45,000 in total seed money to four winners, who were comprised of USC undergraduates, graduate students and recent alumni. The winners presented their concepts to a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs in two categories.

For the Maxient Innovation Category, Crescent Moon Vans won first place and $15,000 to develop their product. Also for the Maxient category, Spuradix won second place and $7,500 to develop their product. For The Proving Ground Caliber Discovery Category, Elite Support Americas won first place and $15,000 to advance their idea. Also for Caliber, Lu Learning won second place and $7,500.

MOORE SCHOOL HOSTS SEC ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETITION, USC TEAM WINS SECOND PLACE

The University of South Carolina invited budding entrepreneurs from across the Southeastern Conference to share their innovative and original ideas with the SEC Student Pitch Competition in April 2022 in a “Shark Tank”-style competition. USC also had their best-ever showing in the competition winning second place.

The South Carolina team included Max Wile (’23 expected graduation finance and international business), Stephan Voelk (‘23 expected graduation economics and operations and supply chain), and Parth Vashi (’23 expected graduation USC public health and business administration minor). Winning second place and $3,000 to help them develop their idea, Wile, Voelk and Vashi promoted Spuradix, a carbohydrate and menthol oral rinse that activates brain circuits responsible for feeling more energetic and less fatigued to improve athletes’ performance.