Rowan students showcase innovation at New Venture Competition & Expo

Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business became a hub of energy and creativity on April 17 during the annual New Venture Competition & Expo, a daylong celebration of student innovation hosted by the Rowan Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (RCIE). The event brought together aspiring founders, faculty, alumni and industry leaders to spotlight student ventures at every stage of development.

The day began with the New Venture Expo, held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Business Hall atrium. Fifty student teams from across the University showcased their business ideas at booth-style displays, pitching concepts directly to visiting judges and attendees. Ninety judges—made up of entrepreneurs, investors and business professionals—circulated throughout the space, scoring teams and offering real-time feedback. At the conclusion of the Expo, judges’ scores were tabulated, with winning teams earning non-dilutive seed funding and recognition, including first- through fifth-place prizes, honorable mentions and a People’s Choice Award.

This is the 19th year for the New Venture Competition, but the Expo part of the day has only been running since 2019.

“The competition portion is focused on venture-stage startups, while the Expo highlights idea-stage companies,” said Jess Vattima, director of RCIE. “There’s a big gap across that spectrum, and we want to create a space where students can start talking about their ideas, build confidence and connect with judges and mentors earlier in their journey.”

Alongside the Expo, attendees were also invited to explore the stARTup Gallery, a curated exhibition that bridges entrepreneurship and the arts by showcasing student-created work as both creative expression and marketable product. Organized through Creatives 230 (an experiential learning lab housed within RCIE) and the Rowan photography program, the gallery featured more than 120 pieces of student-created art available for sale as prints, with proceeds returning directly to the artists.

“Part of what I really want to instill in students is: You’re making these artistic and creative projects, but how are you going to activate them in the market? That’s the connection where we get them to think entrepreneurially,” said Jenny Drumgoole, faculty lead for Creatives 230.

Among the featured installations was Sight & Sound, a collaborative student exhibition that paired original photography with curated music. “We felt it was super important to have something tangible that people could bring home with them. So, all 27 songs are paired with the original 27 images featured in the show, and then burned onto a CD so the experience can be brought home,” said Rowan BFA student Jared Maristch, one of the curators.

Following the Expo, attention shifted to Boyd Recital Hall for the New Venture Competition, where five finalist teams took the stage to formally pitch their ventures before a five-judge panel. These teams had already proved themselves through previous rounds of judging that featured more than 25 companies vying for a spot on the stage.

This year’s finalists were +Pouch, a fast-acting electrolyte oral pouch for POTS patients and athletes; Modachron, a personalized wardrobe assistant; FreshU, an on-demand meal system for college athletes; Serein Spritz, a skincare-integrated hand sanitizer spray; and Pharma Connect Navigator, an AI-powered platform connecting biotech and pharmaceutical teams with manufacturing partners.

At the end of the competition, Serein Spritz, founded by entrepreneurship major Maya Hagan, was named the first-place winner, earning top honors for its combination of innovation, practicality and market potential. She took home the top prize: $5,000 in non-dilutive funding, a $25,000 convertible note through the Rowan Innovation Venture Fund, automatic acceptance to RCIE's AccelerateRU program and a mini-documentary package from Rowan-alum-founded 15M Media.

As for the Expo, the first place honor went to Cadence Creative Group, who took home $3,000 in non-dilutive funding for their business running a production studio that helps local businesses create social media content to grow their brand.

Behind the scenes, the event was supported by mentors and organizers deeply familiar with the entrepreneurial journey, including Josh Perry, an MBA student and fellow. A former New Venture competitor himself, Perry now helps mentor finalist teams and supports event operations.

“For many students, the value goes far beyond prize money,” Perry said. “Developing these skills and getting comfortable being up in front of people, being vulnerable and pitching to convey value about something is one-hundred percent something that is going to be used in the future. Beyond working for a company, you need to pitch yourself in a job interview. So all of these tools can be applicable to any stage in life, any career path—not just creating your own business.”

Together, the Expo and Competition underscored Rowan’s commitment to hands-on, experiential learning—giving students a chance to roll up their sleeves, pursue bold ideas and gain the confidence and skills to carry them forward well beyond campus.