Student Startups Take Center Stage at Seton Hall’s 2026 Pirates Pitch Competition

Seton Hall University hosted the 16th annual Pirates Pitch Startup Competition on April 8 at the University Center Theatre, where student entrepreneurs presented innovative business concepts to a panel of judges. Organized by the Stillman School of Business’ Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), the competition awarded a total of $16,000 in seed funding to the top ventures.

The event opened with remarks from Stillman School Dean Joyce Strawser, who underscored the University’s commitment to fostering student innovation and entrepreneurship.

The program was led by student emcees Janice Huang, Josalyn Treadwell, Olivia Aldellizzi and Alexandria Woodley. Finalists advanced through a competitive selection process that began earlier in the semester, when 18 teams submitted executive summaries of their business ideas. Following mentorship and evaluation by faculty and alumni, six teams were selected to compete in the final round.

Each finalist delivered a seven-minute pitch, followed by a five-minute question-and-answer session with a panel of alumni entrepreneurs and industry professionals.

First-Place Winner: Emerald Editor ($8,000)

Sophomore Will Martin earned first place and the $8,000 grand prize for Emerald Editor, an artificial intelligence-powered video editing platform designed to streamline content creation.

The platform originated from Martin’s experience managing a YouTube channel and addresses the time-intensive nature of video editing by transforming raw footage into polished, professional-quality content. Emerald Editor aims to support small businesses and digital creators seeking efficient production solutions.

Emerald Editor also received the $500 Audience Choice Award. Martin said the funding will support continued platform development, including expanded beta testing and product refinement.

Second-Place Winner: PURE ($4,500)

Jeimy Simon, a senior public relations major, earned second place and $4,500 for PURE, an oil-based fragrance business offering long-lasting scents inspired by designer brands at more accessible price points.

Simon developed the concept in response to the high cost of luxury fragrances and plans to use the funding to expand inventory, introduce new products and grow the brand’s retail presence across Northern New Jersey.

Third-Place Winner: MacroChef ($3,000)

Thomas “TJ” Deneault, a senior marketing major, placed third and received $3,000 for MacroChef, a mobile application designed to promote home cooking and healthier eating habits.

The application features meal tracking, reward-based incentives and an artificial intelligence-driven nutrition assistant to help users build consistent routines. Deneault plans to enhance the platform’s functionality and expand its user base.

Other Finalists

Additional finalists presented ventures spanning multiple sectors:

Iron Strong Health Initiative, developed by Aakash Arumugam, Aidan Griffin and Joseph Butler, is a nonprofit application that helps users identify potential anemia risks and seek early medical evaluation.

Oustify, created by Ji Ming Zhang, provides small property owners with tools and guidance to navigate the eviction process, including compliance support and legal documentation resources.

NatureFill, developed by Bryce Miller, Maria Saitta, Madeleine Mazgaj and Ashlyn McCormick, is a sustainability-focused initiative that utilizes smart refill kiosks to reduce single-use plastic waste.

Judges and Industry Insight

The competition was evaluated by a panel of accomplished alumni and industry leaders, including Gabino Roche, founder of Saphyre; Carina Castagna, founder of Pesto Joe LLC; Bryan Jakovcic, chief executive officer of Fusion Health; and Juliet Payseur, owner of Curated Realty.

Judges evaluated each team based on business model strength, innovation, market potential and overall presentation.

“It was a privilege judging the Pirates Pitch competition and seeing the enormous effort each student put into their ideas,” Payseur said. “The students were creative, well-prepared and did a great job explaining their concepts with confidence.”

Supporting Student Entrepreneurship

Susan Scherreik, founding director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, noted that Pirates Pitch plays a critical role in helping students develop early-stage ideas into viable ventures through mentorship, workshops and experiential learning opportunities.

Beyond financial support, the competition is designed to strengthen students’ confidence and prepare them for future professional and entrepreneurial pursuits.

Looking Ahead

All finalists are eligible to participate in the Pirates LaunchPad Summer Accelerator, an eight-week program that provides additional funding, mentorship and resources to support continued business development.

Pirates Pitch remains a central component of Seton Hall University’s entrepreneurship initiatives, encouraging students to develop innovative ideas and pursue them in a structured, supportive environment.

Categories: Business, Campus Life