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Costello-inspired entrepreneur fuels success through hydration and hustle

Katelynn C Hipolito — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:32:57 +0000

Costello-inspired entrepreneur fuels success through hydration and hustle Katelynn C Hipolito Thu, 01/22/2026 - 13:32

While growing up, Jheen Oh’s parents always prioritized health, especially his father. “He was always into the latest health trends and products and natural remedies,” he said. With that health‑conscious mindset already in place, Oh had a breakthrough idea while working for a startup in 2017.

Jheen Oh standing in front of his product, Susosu Water. Photo provided

“I realized that a lot of these major water brands are really just made from purified water, which now people are starting to realize it’s just another word for manufactured tap water, which doesn’t provide you the hydration nor the health benefits that you think it does,” he said.

With the help of his father, he launched Susosu Water, the only naturally sourced mineral water from a 600-foot underground source in South Korea, infused with extra hydrogen for a much healthier hydration.

Before enrolling at the Costello College of Business at 91��, Oh was often told by his parents that he was destined to work in business.

“It wasn’t until getting to George Mason that it really clicked and activated my passion for business, with aspects like building relationships, networking with the right people, and hustling,” he said.

Those connections helped him land a position at his first startup and helped him discover the kind of work that he was passionate about.

“It wasn’t until getting to George Mason that it really clicked and activated my passion for business, with aspects like building relationships, networking with the right people, and hustling.”

— Jheen Oh

The COVID-19 pandemic became a major turning point for Oh and Susosu Water, presenting both challenges and opportunities. As consumers rapidly shifted to online shopping, Oh saw a growth of approximately 295% in revenue, prompting him and his business partner to quit their full-time jobs and focus on Susosu. When issues with their Amazon storefront temporarily halted their momentum, they were forced to pivot.

“We had to figure something out, and it was from a simple Google search when we realized that we had to start getting into the wholesale part of our business and started developing that and partnered up with a local food and beverage accelerator program based out of Washington, D.C.,” he said. “We got our big break from Giant Foods, which is huge for us, especially in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, and that’s when we actually got a partnership with UNFI, which is the largest natural and organic distributor.”

At the same time, they were able to get their Amazon account restored, allowing Susosu Water to evolve into a business driven roughly 40% by e-commerce and 60% by wholesale. Susosu Water can be found in approximately 650 retail stores, including the Giant in Fairfax’s University Mall, with growth continuing to accelerate.

Oh reiterates the importance for Costello students to take advantage of their networks, connecting with their classmates, faculty members, alumni, and community partners.

“You’re paying to be around a lot of high-level people, and you just never know who’s going to contribute to your career post-graduation or even during school to set you up for what you want to do,” he says. “One of the core foundations of entrepreneurship is really networking and relationships.”

Along with attending networking events, he encourages students to take as many internships as possible to gain experience, expand skill sets, and explore their passions. Through Handshake, he has hired numerous George Mason students as interns.

Additionally, Oh is excited to return to campus to mentor young entrepreneurs for the upcoming Patriot Pitch Competition, an experiential learning opportunity where students compete for prize funding to launch their business ventures.

As Susosu Water continues to grow, Oh hopes his path inspires Costello students to stay bold, stay connected, and pursue opportunities with the same drive and determination that transformed his vision into reality.

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A new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship opens in Mason Korea

ckearney — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:09:27 +0000

A new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship opens in Mason Korea ckearney Thu, 11/20/2025 - 12:09

As Korea and the United States deepen their cooperation in technology and entrepreneurship, Mason Korea has opened a Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) in Songdo. This center is the global extension of the center of the same name at the Costello College of Business in Fairfax.

Center director Sungyee Kim talked about the mission of the center and its plan for future programs at the opening. Photo provided

The new center connects two campuses across two continents. Together, they will expand entrepreneurship education; strengthen collaboration among universities, industry, and research institutions; and help Korean start-ups reach global markets.

“The launch of CIE in Korea marks a meaningful step in linking Korea and the United States through a global entrepreneurship platform,” said Joshua Park, campus dean of Mason Korea. “By connecting Songdo with Northern Virginia, we hope to build an innovation network where students, researchers, companies, and institutions can collaborate and grow together.”

The opening ceremony brought together representatives from Fairfax and key partners across the region. David Burge, vice president for enrollment management at George Mason, and JK Aier, senior associate dean at Costello, joined leaders from the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, the Incheon Global Campus Foundation, Seoul National University, Incheon Technopark, Inha University, domestic start-up support teams, and student entrepreneurs.

Sungyee Kim, the new center’s director, talked about the mission of the center and its plan for future programs. “We want to create programs that help students shape their ideas and support companies as they grow beyond Korea,” she said. “By tapping into George Mason’s global network, we aim to nurture innovative talent and contribute to a sustainable start-up ecosystem.”

Built as a global hub, CIE Korea will focus on fostering Korea–U.S. entrepreneurial talent, advancing applied research through partnership with industry and research institutions, and supporting Korean start-ups as they explore overseas markets. The center plans to provide education and mentoring, guidance on business models and commercialization, and support in law, compliance, and intellectual property, along with soft-landing and investment-network services for global expansion.

Looking ahead, CIE will strengthen support for entry into the U.S. East Coast through George Mason’s Northern Virginia International Soft Landing Accelerator (NISA) and develop a model aligned with Incheon’s specialized industries. It also plans to expand joint research with faculty and regional partners, building what it envisions as a “global entrepreneurship innovation belt” that links Songdo and Northern Virginia.

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Campus News

WISE program launches to empower entrepreneurs in Fairfax County

Katelynn C Hipolito — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 14:13:11 +0000

WISE program launches to empower entrepreneurs in Fairfax County Katelynn C Hipolito Wed, 08/27/2025 - 10:13

On Saturday, August 9, the WISE program officially launched at the Hybla Valley Community Center in Alexandria, Virginia—marking a significant milestone in advancing entrepreneurship and workforce development for aspiring entrepreneurs in Fairfax County.

A key component of the SOAR Initiative, the Workforce Innovation Success through Entrepreneurship (WISE) program is spearheaded by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) within the Costello College of Business at 91��. This initiative is made possible through a strategic partnership with Melwood, the W.I.S.H. Center, and the Fairfax County government. Thanks to this powerful collaboration, the WISE program is offered to participants completely free of charge.

Costello College of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé (left) chats with current RISE participants Fershta-Barakzai (middle) and Madina Barakzai (right). Photo by John Boal Photography.

Ajay Vinzé, dean of the Costello College of Business, opened the event by emphasizing the power of entrepreneurship to solve problems, build communities, and drive economic growth. “A successful entrepreneur takes an idea, builds a company around it, and makes it profitable,” he said.

The college, named after local entrepreneur Donald G. Costello, is deeply rooted in the belief that entrepreneurship is a vehicle for social impact and upward mobility.

With initiatives like the Patriot Ventures Program, the Honey Bee Initiative, and the Patriot Pitch Competition, CIE equips aspiring entrepreneurs with essential training, mentorship, and resources. The center is distinguished for its commitment to opening doors for those traditionally excluded from the entrepreneurship ecosystem through these core programs and the SOAR Initiative.

In addition to WISE, which supports Fairfax County residents, SOAR includes two other targeted efforts: one focused on building entrepreneurial ecosystems in rural and emerging communities, and the other supporting refugees and immigrants through strategic partnerships. The latter, known as the Shrivastava Family Refugee and Immigrant Success through Entrepreneurship (RISE) program, has already had 79 participants complete the entrepreneurship bootcamp training, with approximately 42 new jobs and 17 new businesses created so far.

WISE program leadership and implementation team celebrates ribbon cutting with RISE and WISE program participants. Photo by John Boal Photography.

Rodney Lusk, supervisor of the Franconia District within Fairfax County, was instrumental in envisioning the possibilities for the WISE program. His commitment to make Fairfax County a place where community members can truly thrive is deeply appreciated by the Costello College of Business and all the program stakeholders. On hand to give remarks, along with Dean Vinzé, were Larysa Kautz, CEO and president of Melwood; Yolonda Earl-Thompson, community expert and lived experience consultant; Eboni Borden, W.I.S.H. program director; Andres Jordan, WISE program entrepreneurship training instructor; and Rebecca Howick, director of operations and engagement at CIE.

“Our partnership with Melwood, the W.I.S.H Center, and Fairfax County is an incredible opportunity to expand our social impact within the region,” says Howick.

“The SOAR Initiative’s holistic approach to small business development creates new pipelines for community members that aren’t already part of the ecosystem. We are revitalizing hope, transforming lives, and boosting our economy."

— Rebecca Howick, director of operations and engagement at the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The launch of the WISE program marks a powerful step forward in harnessing the transformative potential of entrepreneurship rooted in community. By uniting visionary leaders, strategic partners, and leveraging internal and external entrepreneurial resources, this initiative empowers individuals to shape their own futures while strengthening the fabric of the region. As the SOAR Initiative continues to expand its reach, it reaffirms a vital truth: when entrepreneurship is made accessible, it becomes a force for resilience and shared prosperity.

In This Story

Ajay Vinzé, PhD

Rebecca Howick

Topics

SOAR Initiative

Research

An inspiring internship resume for a blossoming entrepreneur

sholla4 — Tue, 13 May 2025 19:45:18 +0000

An inspiring internship resume for a blossoming entrepreneur sholla4 Tue, 05/13/2025 - 15:45

One could say that student Leticia Nunez Nova’s path to business was predestined. Genetic, even.

Photo provided

Her maternal grandfather owned numerous businesses around the Dominican Republic—from real estate to auto shops to hardware stores—and her paternal grandmother used business to support her family after her husband’s passing.

“I grew up hearing these stories about how entrepreneurship has helped people out of difficult situations,” she said. Nunez Nova is studying business at 91�� with concentrations in marketing and business analytics. “I was inspired. I wanted to build something from scratch myself.”

Nunez Nova’s desire to nurture a business from the ground up paved the way for a series of internships with start-up companies. In her freshman year, she landed a position with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) in the Costello College of Business. Her work included supporting the SOAR Initiative for aspiring entrepreneurs and the student venture program The Depot, which she said helped create a strong foundation for her future career.

“Supporting student entrepreneurship and the local business ecosystem aligned with my reasons for studying business,” she said.

Her work at CIE became a foundational experience. “CIE associate director Crystal Fickers helped me build core soft and technical skills, and CIE director of operations and engagement Rebecca Howick taught me how to use kindness strategically to help others and manage challenges in the workplace,” she said.

That interest in local businesses continued with her second and third internships. While continuing her work with the CIE, Nunez Nova worked for the start-up company HomeCook, a platform to connect commercial kitchen owners with food entrepreneurs. Then, she interned with WISE Cities LLC, a student-up developing an app to encourage senior community engagement, social participation, and physical activity with citizens over the age of 65.

Now, she’s trying something a little different: gaining experience working for growing telecommunications start-up Raycom. She’s learning the intricacies of office culture and procedures, something that she says is perhaps the most valuable for students to learn.

“Those basic workplace skills are transferable,” she said. “Working in an office is a unique experience, and it will give you an edge if you can say you’ve done it and done it well.”

While each internship has given her the opportunity to grow in unique skills, all of them have built onto the foundation she’s gained from her classes at George Mason.

“I learn by doing, so I think it’s so important that you apply whatever you’re learning in the classroom. It helps you understand the reality of the world that you’ll be going into once you graduate,” she said. “It gives you the chance to determine if this is really the path you want.”

Nunez Nova will graduate in spring 2025. She hopes her future continues to be one of discovery and exploration while pursuing her goal of making an impact.

“The more I explore, the more I learn, and the more I find to love about marketing,” she said. “I want to work in a place where I really believe in the mission.”

2025 Spring Commencement

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George Mason entrepreneurs win big at the 2025 Patriot Pitch Competition

Greg Johnson — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:34:46 +0000

George Mason entrepreneurs win big at the 2025 Patriot Pitch Competition Greg Johnson Wed, 04/23/2025 - 11:34

“Let me be clear, innovation has always been, and will always be, the solution to the world’s challenges,” said Patriot Pitch emcee Patrick Soleymani, associate dean for outreach and strategic engagement at 91��'s Costello College of Business. “Innovation transforms potential into power and drives us forward as an institution, community, and ultimately a civilization.”

Patriot Pitch emcee Patrick Soleymani addresses packed house in the Johnson Center Bistro. Photo by John Boal Photography

As emcee of the 2025 Patriot Pitch Competition, presented by 22nd Century Technologies Inc., Soleymani addressed the packed house. Eight final teams—two from each track—had been refining their business models with their mentors and practicing their pitches for several weeks in preparation for the afternoon’s competition.

Housed within the Costello College of Business, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) led the programming efforts and organized the final pitch event on Thursday, April 10. Ajay Vinzé, dean of the Costello College of Business, reiterated the importance of entrepreneurship and what it meant to the college’s namesake.

“In 1976, Donald and a partner founded Century Stair Company, which grew to become one of the largest stair manufacturers on the East Coast,” he said. “His passion for entrepreneurship is here with us, in spirit. Today, we are honored to have his trusted former business partners, Joe and Peg Contrucci, with us in the room.”

91�� President Gregory Washington was also in attendance, along key stakeholders from the George Mason entrepreneurial ecosystem.

After Ava Uppal, BS Marketing ‘19, interviewed technology founder and executive Sid Banerjee (founded Clarabridge that was acquired by Qualtrics in 2021 for over $1 billion) in an illuminating keynote discussion, the competition commenced—this time with a record amount of prize money.

Mason's Choice Award winners. Photo by John Boal Photography

One by one, finalist teams in the STEM, Social Impact, General Entrepreneurship for Undergraduate Students, and General Entrepreneurship for Graduate Students and Recent Alumni tracks took the stage to make their pitches to four judges—subject matter experts chosen for each track—and to the audience of George Mason community members. Following each 5-minute pitch, the presenting team fielded questions from the judges. Students in between classes quickly filled the back of the Johnson Center Bistro as they cheered on their classmates and friends.

Anticipation filled the air as another Costello alumnus and community leader, Jason Howell, BS Accounting ‘97, took the stage to announce the winners:

STEM

First place: Barty AI (Sahil Jagtap)
Second place: Q Haven (Caden Green)

Social Impact

First place: CarbonSecure (Maddie Gray, Maha Raja, Ryland Plodpluang, Juan Zambrano-Lozano)
Second place: The Allocated at Delia’s House (Marisela Zelaya Delcid, David Osorto)

General Entrepreneurship Undergraduate

First place: Valor (Caleb Fink)
Second place: NOVAFoam (Ethan Ford, Trevor Geissler, Mikhail Ivanov, Stephano Barra)

General Entrepreneurship for Graduate Students and Recent Alumni

First place: Viralbite (Emmanuel Nwokeabia)
Second place: EchoPods (Raghu Manjunatha, Pooja Manjunatha Swamy)

George Mason Emmanuel Nwokeabia presenting Viralbite. Photo by John Boal Photography

Following each track of presentations, audience members scanned a QR code on the screen to vote for the separate Mason’s Choice Awardees. The winners were The Allocated at Delia’s House and Viralbite.

Emmanuel Nwokeabia, a 2024 graduate of the Costello College of Business, received the most prize money—$13,000 between his two awards. “This was more than a win—it was a powerful encouragement to pursue my vision. I encourage anyone with an idea to take that bold step, and see how the world responds,” said Nwokeabia.

The 2025 Patriot Pitch Competition showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of the Costello College of Business and 91��. Approximately 250 audience members attended to watch the innovative concepts and products being pitched.

2025 Patriot Pitch participants

In This Story

Ajay Vinzé, PhD

Patrick Soleymani

Learn more about the Costello College of Business

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George Mason alumnus launches AI software startup for law enforcement training

Greg Johnson — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:05:48 +0000

George Mason alumnus launches AI software startup for law enforcement training Greg Johnson Wed, 02/26/2025 - 11:05

Delivering immersive, voice-driven simulations for law enforcement through building skills, gaining real-time feedback, and preparing for real-world scenarios, Kaiden AI is a software startup co-founded by its CEO Ali Aldubaisi, BS Neuroscience ’21.

Ali Aldubaisi

Aldubaisi had begun studying neuroscience at George Mason with the intention of going to medical school. However, the distance learning forced upon by COVID led him to think outside of the box and start his first company vRealm, an online tutoring platform.

After a few years working on the project, he co-founded Kaiden AI with his vRealm partner, Ali "AJ" Aldjaei. “When we first started, we were focused on the higher education market,” he says. “We initially built the AI platform for grading and evaluation. Like most startups, you build where you initially think is the right fit, and that’s going to be the market for you.” Throughout the process of building his startup and attracting investors, he would find each day bringing surprises.

After seeing limited traction in higher education, Aldubaisi and his team built a small-scale simulation demo to test a new direction. Among the first to see it was Steve Gladis, a senior scholar at George Mason’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and a former FBI special agent. He immediately recognized its potential for law enforcement training and encouraged Aldubaisi to explore that path.

“We put the MVP [minimum viable product] in front of police chiefs and academy directors, and their reaction was completely different from our earlier demos,” says Aldubaisi. “That’s when we knew we had to double down.”

Now, Aldubaisi and his team partner with law enforcement agencies and regional academies to implement their simulation platform, with organizations like the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy currently piloting the technology. Recently closing a $1 million pre-seed round, Kaiden AI’s investors are venture capitalists largely outside of the law enforcement space.

Ali Aldubaisi (right) at the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition. Photo by John Boal Photography

Even though his current work does not appear directly related to neuroscience, Aldubaisi recognizes the value of his degree. In fact, he still keeps up with neuroscience journals, seeing the relevance between that field and running his company. Developing hypotheses and constantly experimenting has helped Aldubaisi and his team refine and optimize Kaiden AI, from its initial concept in January 2024 to its current phase today.

“A lot of the concepts mirror each other,” he says. “What goes into marketing, how to understand people, how people learn.”

In 2024, Aldubaisi led the keynote discussion at the Patriot Pitch Competition, an event organized by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to support ideas and early-stage business ventures from George Mason students and recent alumni. He is now in talks with Rebecca Howick, the center’s director of operations and engagement, about getting more involved with their efforts.

“Having a center where somebody in whatever discipline that they’re studying can articulate or put together an idea or experiment on ideas is so crucial,” says Aldubaisi. He knows there are many intelligent people with brilliant ideas who may be hesitant to pursue their ventures because they don’t know how they’re going to get the funding or backing.

Having gone through that process, Aldubaisi offers crucial advice to aspiring entrepreneurs that reflects his scientific background. “Having the courage to focus on that one thing that you’re trying to prove out is probably the biggest thing,” he says. “Second thing is always look at what your idea is as an experiment, and the goal is to prove or disprove as soon as possible.”

By following these guidelines, Aldubaisi and his team have surpassed fundraising milestones and are excited to put Kaiden AI into the hands of many more law enforcement students and officers.

Learn more about AI research at George Mason

In This Story

Rebecca Howick

Ambitious management and marketing student leads in many organizations across campus

Greg Johnson — Wed, 15 May 2024 13:10:51 +0000

Ambitious management and marketing student leads in many organizations across campus Greg Johnson Wed, 05/15/2024 - 09:10

After two years of studying management and marketing at the Costello College of Business and the Honors College at 91��, Rakibul Alam’s academic credits have put him a semester ahead of schedule.

Rakibul Alam

Now planning to graduate in December of 2025, Alam has been working at an accelerated rate both inside and outside of the classroom. He saw how many opportunities George Mason had to offer, and he was keen to take advantage of as many of them as possible. Among his accolades so far are being named an Honors College Professional Development Fellow, co-founding the Collective Organizations of South Asia, serving as senator in the George Mason Student Government, being a student ambassador for the Costello College of Business, receiving the Shrivastava Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship, and being named the Schwartzstein First-Year Research Award Finalist for his research project, “Coastal Bangladesh: the Effect of High Soil Salinity & Sustainable Agriculture.”

Coming in his freshman year as a commuting student, Alam wanted to learn about the student body and find ways in which he could immediately get involved and feel at home at George Mason. The first group he joined was the Bengali Patriots Association, where he quickly became the freshman representative and most recently the treasurer. “Within the first two weeks, I also learned there was an election for student government,” he says. “I ran for election, and I won and have served as senator the past two years. Everything kind of spiraled from that.” Through the student government, he was also appointed as a student ambassador for the Costello College of Business. As a Costello College of Business ambassador, he’s interacted with and presented to students, prospective students, community partners, and even the Board of Trustees. The position has empowered him to build and expand on his skillsets as he showcases what it means to be a Costello College of Business student. Recently, he’s shifted his ambassador focus to marketing and has been creating social media content to engage the student body, reaching nearly 50,000 views.

This past April, Alam’s startup company, Project Hope, co-owned and established by management and entrepreneurship student Naila Ahsan, was awarded the top prize in Social Impact at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Patriot Pitch Competition. “Our campaign endeavors to furnish annual provisions of safe, sustainable, reusable sanitary napkins to marginalized communities,” he says. “In Bangladesh, 85% of the menstruating population cannot afford necessary menstruating products. Therefore, we are on a mission to end period poverty.” Presenting the prize check to Alam and Ahsan was Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94, an individual whom Alam now considers a mentor. Always proactive in getting involved and making connections, Alam connected with Shrivastava and Christine Landoll, director of business engagement at the Costello College of Business, at several events across the university. Receiving the Shrivastava Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship opened even more doors for him. The scholarship is awarded to students who are contributing to diversity and inclusion through their leadership roles. Rakibul Alam is an exemplary Shrivastava Diversity and Inclusion scholar.

While Alam has taken advantage of the myriad opportunities at George Mason, like with Project Hope, he has also identified and worked toward introducing new solutions and initiatives where he sees a need. He did this when he co-founded the Collective Organizations of South Asia. “The South Asian community was so strong, but it was very dispersed, and our goal was to unify under the organization,” he says. “Our main objective was to provide scholarships for South Asian students.” He is currently their vice president of internal affairs.

In addition to the organizations where he is an active member, Alam enjoys participating in events put on by others across campus. “Going to so many different cultural events helps make you a global leader,” he says. “Companies are very represented all over the world, so having that global understanding is very important.” From the get-go, he came into George Mason with a vision of using the university’s diverse resources to make his student experience as rewarding as possible. Furthermore, this summer he will be interning at the Pentagon with the United States Department of the Navy as a financial management intern. Only two years in, he has a resume stacked with accomplishments, a network connecting him with esteemed business leaders, and the drive to put all of his goals within reach.

Topics

Costello College of Business Students

diversity

Learn more about Student Organizations at the Costello College of Business

In This Story

Sumeet Shrivastava, '94

Christine Landoll

Winning teams are selected at the annual Patriot Pitch Competition

Greg Johnson — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:21:12 +0000

Winning teams are selected at the annual Patriot Pitch Competition Greg Johnson Thu, 04/18/2024 - 15:21

Led by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) within the Costello College of Business at 91��, the Patriot Pitch Competition supports early-stage business ventures and ideas from Mason students and recent alumni. On April 11, the finalists made their final pitches on the Fairfax Campus.

Patrick Soleymani

Before the finals commenced, 16 semifinalist teams, their mentors, and 16 semifinalist judges participated in the semifinal round via Zoom, providing them the chance to develop the skillset to pitch their ideas virtually to stakeholders. These semifinalists represented six colleges and schools from across Mason, including College of Engineering and Computing, Schar School of Policy and Government, College of Education and Human Development, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science, and the Costello College of Business.

After narrowing down the field to eight finalists, two teams in each competition track, the Johnson Center Bistro filled with spectators to watch and vote on the final pitches. In addition to earning $6,000 for first place and $3,000 for second place in each track, teams were eligible to be voted as Mason’s Choice Awardees by the audience members, receiving another $1,000 for each track. The tracks were Public Engagement, STEM, Social Impact, and General Entrepreneurship.

Seth Goldman and Ali Aldubaisi '21

Emceed by Patrick Soleymani, associate dean of outreach and strategic engagement at the Costello College of Business, the competition was proceeded by a keynote discussion with Seth Goldman, co-founder of Eat the Change, Just Ice Tea, and Honest Tea; and recent Mason alumnus entrepreneur Ali Aldubaisi, BS Neuroscience ’21. Aldubaisi asked Goldman about his challenges and triumphs as an entrepreneur, setting the stage perfectly for the next generation of entrepreneurs ready to make their pitches.

Each finalist team was given five minutes to make their pitch, followed by five minutes of answering questions from the panel of judges. The panels of finalist judges comprised Mason stakeholders, faculty, alumni, and other successful entrepreneurs, who were experts in the given competition track.

In all four tracks, the first-place winner was also voted the Mason’s Choice Award Prize winner, awarding each team a total of $7,000. For the Public Engagement Track, UR2CLOSE was selected as the top pick for their following distance indicator to be mounted on the rear license plate of a car to prevent rear-end collisions.

In the STEM Track, FlightCommand Pro was selected as the first-place winner. FlightCommand Pro’s mission is to provide better products and systems for drone operations, including drone deliveries flying with more certainty when beyond the visual line of sight. “As a part of my systems engineering senior design project, my team and I performed a context analysis and a stakeholder analysis to find the performance gaps for a case study about drone delivery to an island located in the Chesapeake Bay – Tangier Island,” says Diana Machuca, a senior studying systems and industrial engineering. “To bridge the gaps, we designed the Drone Range Dynamic System and came up with a business plan for the project.” Mason alumnus Scott Hine, BS Decision Science ’85, mentored the team, advising them to emphasize the humanitarian aspects of the product to appeal to people’s hearts. The team is looking forward to using their winnings to test their system using a real drone.

Project Hope, established by Naila Ahsan, a senior studying management and entrepreneurship, and Rakibul Alam, a junior studying management and marketing, was chosen as the top pitch in the Social Impact Track. In Bangladesh, where 85% of the menstruating population cannot afford the necessary menstruating products, Project Hope endeavors to furnish annual provisions of safe, sustainable, and reusable sanitary napkins to those most in need. “In 2016, I was hosting a warm clothes drive during winter, and I came across a young girl who was banished from her shack in the slum area,” says Ahsan. “To my surprise, I was shocked to see how she was struggling in the cold. But due to lack of access to period products and prevailing stigma, she was banished due to her periods!” Alam says, “I joined the venture to engage and partner with corporations and NGOs to accelerate the business’s growth.” Alam and Ahsan plan to convert their prize money into Bangladeshi taka and invest into the fast-growing business.

Taking the top prize for the General Entrepreneurship Track was Zachary Suh with ElderlyEats. Suh, a freshman studying marketing, created ElderlyEats to provide senior citizens with meal plans that are diverse, customizable, and nutritious. The idea came to him when his grandmother developed health conditions that made it difficult for her to digest food. “Our team of dieticians and chefs have carefully curated traditional meals elders are used to and incorporated common nutritional needs elderly people deal with, past just vegan and gluten free and accommodate common dietary conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and dysphagia,” he says. Suh is planning to use the prize money to develop meals vetted through dieticians and stronger customer discovery.

Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94

Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94, donor of the CIE’s Shrivastava Family Refugee and Immigrant Success through Entrepreneurship (RISE) program, announced the event’s winners, track by track, and welcomed them to the stage. External representatives from each competition track presented giant checks to their respective winners. The representatives were Beth Young, PhD Education Policy ’18, president of Quality Information Partners, Inc. and Commissioner of Fairfax City Economic Development; Gurdip Singh, divisional dean of the School of Computing in Mason's College of Engineering and Computing; Anil Sharma, CEO of 22nd Century Technologies Inc.; and John Hoeveler, manager of national business investment at Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

Dean Ajay Vinzé

The 2024 Patriot Pitch Competition was a culmination of months, and sometimes years, of hard work, starting from the initial idea to the polished pitch in front of a room of audience members. For a month leading up to the semifinals, the teams met with their mentors and attended entrepreneurship training sessions with Costello College of Business faculty. The experience of the participants and the feedback they received will serve as a launching pad to becoming successful entrepreneurs. The event is another triumph of inclusive entrepreneurship for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Costello College of Business.

Thank you to the event’s sponsors: 22nd Century Technologies, Inc.; College of Engineering and Computing at 91��; Fairfax City Economic Development Authority; Costello College of Business Women in Business Initiative; Costello College of Business Management Advisory Council; Fairfax County Economic Development Authority; and the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at the Costello College of Business.

The CIE team led the organization of the event, helping make it an outstanding experience for all those involved.

If you are interested in being a mentor, judge, or sponsor of the Patriot Pitch, please email ciemason@gmu.edu to learn more.

2024 Patriot Pitch Competition Participants

Lead Event Organizers: CIE Team

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Costello College of Business Students