Miller School gives update on Hult Prize Competition

Sweet Sip

Earlier in the Fall ’19 term, 11 student teams presented in the 2019/2020 Hult Prize Competition.  This year’s Hult Prize theme was “Building Startups that have a Positive Impact on Our Planet with Every Dollar Earned.”  Hult Prize is a $1,000,000 social venture competition that attracts 100,000 applications annually.  Around 1,500 entrepreneurs will compete at regional final competitions every year.

The winner of the ECU competition, Sweet Sip, will advance to the regional finals. Other student teams will have the opportunity to apply directly to regionals.  In the past four years, ECU has been represented at eight regional competitions.  Student travel for the Hult Prize is sponsored by Student Involvement and Leadership and the Miller School of Entrepreneurship.

Hult Prize Judges

About the Winner: This year’s winner Grace Krell with Sweet Sip makes non-plastic drinking straws that help reduce plastic ocean waste.  She is a supplier for the NC Aquariums and the first runner up of the 2019 Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge.

About the ECU Competition: Eleven teams presented social venture ideas at the Health Science Student Center.  Judges included representatives from BB&T leadership Center, Miller School of Entrepreneurship, Greenville Utilities, and Duke Energy.  Teams attended three preparation workshops leading up to the competition.  This competition was student led.  Pranaya Pakala, last year’s regional finalist led the Hult Prize competition with sponsorship support from the Miller School.

Pranaya Pakala

• Categories:
• Miller School of Entrepreneurship