Alabama student’s business plan wins $50K at Edge competition

Have you ever wanted to start a business? Do you have a great idea that you want to share with the world? At the Student Business Plan Competition at Tuscaloosa’s Edge, students presented their best plans to potential investors in the hopes of making their business dreams come true.

The competition is hosted by the Culverhouse College of Business of the University of Alabama and offers students experience and feedback when pitching their plans to the judges.

Ideas presented ranged from a hammock heater to a new type of cement.

Thomas Orchanian, a student entrepreneur, said the competition is a great way for students to get feedback.

“Everybody has ideas that could be great businesses but a lot of people don’t act on them,” said Orchanian. “I think knowing that there is area for people to foster entrepreneurial ideas to grow is great for the area to help promote people to come out here and really to try to find something that they are passionate about.”

This year’s grand prize winner is Brian Henderson with Ecobrew. Formerly Tuska Brew Solutions, Ecobrew captures and recycles CO2 created during the beer brewing process, meaning breweries can reuse the reclaimed CO2 for carbonation.

Other winners will split $50,000.