UT Students Impress at National Entrepreneurship Competition

University of Tampa seniors Morgan Bierbrunner, an entrepreneurship major, and Isabella Dillio, an advertising and public relations major, and their innovative venture, Rush Power, finished in the top 15 out of 150 teams at e-Fest, a national entrepreneurship contest, held April 18-20, at the University of St. Thomas’ Schulze School of Entrepreneurship in Minneapolis.

UT Students Impress at National Entrepreneurship Competition University of Tampa seniors Morgan Bierbrunner and Isabella Dillio and their innovative venture, Rush Power, finished in the top 15 out of 150 teams at e-Fest, a national entrepreneurship contest.

Rush Power offers pre-workout gummies designed to enhance athletic performance.

The e-Fest competition consists of several contests, including pitch competitions and problem-solving challenges. Bierbrunner and Dillio impressed both judges and attendees in the Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge by presenting their business concept clearly and engaging in a focused Q&A session.

Their strong performance in that contest earned them a prize of $3,500.

"The experience was tremendously inspiring," said Bierbrunner. “Meeting a diverse group of talented peers provided both motivation and a valuable exchange of ideas that will fuel our future endeavors.”

“The opportunity to connect with so many passionate, like-minded entrepreneurs and present Rush Power to an engaged audience was invaluable,” Dillio added. “The relationships we've built will undoubtedly support our venture's growth."

Earlier this semester, Bierbrunner and Dillio placed first at UT’s Spartan Cup, which secured them a spot representing UT at the Florida Governor’s Cup, where they clinched third place and a $2,000 prize. They also achieved third place at the New Venture Expo, adding another $1,000 to their winnings.

The prize money from these achievements has bolstered their venture, and Rush Power is now taking pre-orders for its first batch of gummies. Customers can find more information and place orders on the Rush Power website.

“Morgan and Isabella have consistently demonstrated resilience, creativity and a knack for critical thinking,” said Josh Ray, the new venture advisor at the Sykes College of Business John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. “Their success at e-Fest is a testament to the high caliber of entrepreneurship education they have received at UT and their personal dedication to excellence.”

For further information, contact Bert Seither, manager of operations at the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, at aseither@ut.edu.