During my first semester of senior year, I, along with 5 other teammates, won the prestigious 2023 Entrepreneurial Food Hackathon held at Cornell University. This pivotal experience was a defining moment in my entrepreneurial journey, and it exemplifies my commitment to innovation and leadership.
In a highly competitive field comprising over 130 participants, my team and I emerged as the grand prize winners through judgement by a diverse panel of food industry professionals. The challenge before us was to address critical issues in the realm of food, health, and sustainability.
My group in the midst of ideation for the hackathon challenge.
This hackathon experience was an opportunity to hone my creativity and collaboration skills. Working alongside my talented teammates (Austin Montgomery, Nicole Szeluga, Josh Felton, Lanye Luo, and Erianti Edward), we navigated the constraints of time and competition to generate innovative solutions. The intensity of the event pushed us to think outside the box, and our success underscored our ability to rise to the occasion and deliver under pressure.
I played a vital role in guiding the initial ideation process and shaping the direction of our project. As a team, we collectively brainstormed ideas and discussed potential solutions to address several of the given challenges. After finalizing a broader idea, I played a crucial role in developing our brand identity and design elements in addition to taking the lead in terms of green materials within our pitch and product. We focused on minimizing waste and reducing our carbon footprint especially through implementing eco-friendly packaging solutions.
I actively researched and explored green packaging options, assessing their feasibility and environmental impact. This involved delving into the intricacies of material properties and understanding how they aligned with our sustainability goals.
The success of our project was a result of a collaborative effort, and I am proud to have been a part of such a diverse team that displayed unwavering perseverance and a commitment to pushing boundaries. Together, we created an innovative product and pitch to ultimately improve human health, help honey bee populations, and preserve the environment. Check out our pitch below and article in the Cornell Chronicle.
Round 1 Competition Pitch Presentation
Physical packaging and edible drink prototypes completed within the 24 hour limits of the hackathon for our final round presentation.
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