ALLIANCE, Ohio - The semi-annual Raider Tank event at the University of Mount Union was held November 4 with 24 students pitching 13 product ideas and problem solutions to the panel of community judges.

Raider Tank is an entrepreneurial competition based on ABC’s hit show “Shark Tank.” Similar to the show, teams or individuals come up with a product or idea that they believe will be a hot commodity in their given markets. They then pitch their ideas to a panel of judges for a cash prize that they can then use for their start-ups. 

The “sharks” of the judging panel included, Linda Hale, community manager of Innovations District HQ, Dr. Kristine Still, founding dean of Mount Union’s College of Applied and Social Sciences, Alec Simon of MAGNET and Mike Starkey, senior design engineer with Enventys.

The event is open for students of all majors to present their ideas.

For this event, first place went to a device that helped measure transmission performance called the “Transmission Tuning Stand.” The winning group included B.J. Steiner ‘20, a mechanical engineering major of Apple Creek, Ohio, Mike Sinclair ‘20, a mechanical engineering major of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania and John Staron ’20, a mechanical engineering major of Troy, Michigan. 

Second place honors went to Michelle Kissane ’22, a sport business major of Amherst, Ohio, for her idea of “Gimme,” an app for having food delivered to your seat at entertainment and sporting events. The final cash prize went to Gabby Cataloni ’22, a computer engineering major of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, and Dallas Anderson ’22, an integrated media and psychology double major from Akron, Ohio, for “Snap Shears,” which are adjustable scissors for right or left-handed people.

To learn more about the entrepreneurship program at Mount Union, visit mountunion.edu/entrepreneurship.