Entrepreneurial Students Semifinalists at U.Pitch Competition

As part of Trinity’s new Founding Partner status with Future Founders Foundation (FFF), Trinity freshmen Ryan Hesslau of Mokena, Illinois, and Tom Iwema of Oak Lawn, Illinois, were invited to participate in the first annual U.Pitch competition on November 24.

The event, hosted at Mid-America Club in Chicago, welcomed entrepreneurial students from major Chicago universities to the semi-final expo-style event and the final 90-second pitch competition. About 150 professionals attended, including Trinity alumni.

Trinity business professors Dr. Rick Hamilton and Professor Kyle Harkema accompanied Hesslau and Iwema. The professors originally approached the students after deciding Hesslau’s foreverU organization and Iwema’s IKG Inc. maintenance company could be good candidates for the U.Pitch competition.

Hesslau and Iwema were selected as semifinalists after passing through an initial round in which participants submitted a 90-second video describing their businesses. As semifinalists, they were invited to attend the final competition, although they did not present.

Both students found the event helpful in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

“We had the chance to network with business professionals including investors, venture capitalists, and big time CEO’s,” Hesslau said. “I was handing out business cards left and right.”

Hesslau’s foreverU is a teen-run, pro-love movement “that raises awareness of bullying and its emotional effects among teens.” Though he didn’t compete in the final pitch, Hesslau found that his display booth garnered much attention and exposure.

Iwema also felt the event was a great opportunity to promote and learn from finalist pitches. He and his business partner and fellow Chicago Christian High School graduate Max Kerfin, a freshman at St. Ambrose in Iowa, said the event helped encourage their mission to “start early, grow big.” As the owners of the maintenance business, these young entreprenuers take pride in providing employment opportunities, as well as great service to their customers.