On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, two Midway University student teams were accepted as finalists for the Kentucky Collegiate Pitch after a panel of judges at the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) reviewed their business models.
CochleoFit’s founder Evie Clare and ProCut’s team of Fabian Garcia, Belle Dotson, Steven Mahirwe and Louisa Garcia were officially invited to GSE's Collegiate Pitch Exploratory Track competition on February 28th, 2026, at SparkHaus in Covington, KY. Finalists will compete in live pitches against students from colleges and universities across the Commonwealth.
The in-person event, which is free and open to the public, will offer student founders who pitch early-stage ventures the opportunity to compete for funding and recognition.
CochleoFit and ProCut were concepts developed in Midway University’s BUS 427 Entrepreneurship course taught by Dr. Jeb Gorham, Professor of Sport Management and Ms. Amy Sheikh, Instructor of Business Administration. This popular course equips students with knowledge and skills to conceptualize innovative venture opportunities through the creation and analysis of real-world business models. After their initial coursework, students and teams have the option to continue working on their ventures through mentorship with Dr. Gorham, Ms. Sheikh and Dr. Amber Chatelain, Associate Professor of Marketing, who all support a newly launched Entrepreneurship Club on campus. This student-directed E-Club helps refine business concepts outside of class, move ideas to prototypes, discover customers and product test. Midway University’s E-Club launch was supported by a partnership with Awesome, Inc., a Lexington-based tech and entrepreneurial hub.
CochleoFit founder, Evie Clare said “I’m honored to advance to the GSE Finals and grateful for the guidance I’ve received from Midway’s faculty throughout this process. Their feedback and time have played a big role in shaping this project, and I am excited to keep developing the idea.”
The ProCut Team said “It was a surprise and honor to be selected as finalists for the Collegiate Pitch. As soccer athletes who identified a problem with apparel in our sport, we are excited to move our idea and business model to the next level.”
“It is a privilege to work with students who are dedicated to exploring entrepreneurship from ideation through prototyping and potential launch. Our collaborative learning model focuses on lean planning where students consistently test their business hypotheses to develop the most effective minimal viable products,” said Dr. Gorham. “I have worked with many students for competitions over the years and it is always exciting to see them experience success and gain recognition.”
“I’m incredibly proud of the creativity and effort these students put into their entrepreneurial ideas, and I can truly see both of these products succeeding in the marketplace,” said Dr. Chatelain. “Dr. Gorham and Ms. Sheikh did an outstanding job guiding the teams through the development process, and I was glad to contribute my perspective and expertise as they refined their product concepts and pitch decks.”
Participation in the GSE Collegiate Pitch reflects Midway University’s commitment to applied learning, industry-focused projects, and professional readiness. Through courses, faculty mentorship, and real-world competitions, students are encouraged turn problems into viable solutions.
To support our Midway entrepreneurs, you can register here -- and invite your friends and family to do the same.
About the Kentucky Collegiate Pitch Competition
Hosted annually by the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs, the Collegiate Pitch is the Commonwealth’s largest intercollegiate startup competition. The event provides students with the chance to showcase early-stage ventures, receive feedback from experienced judges, and compete for funding to help bring their ideas to life. Participants represent colleges and universities across Kentucky and compete in categories designed for both exploratory concepts and more developed business models.
More information can be found here: https://kentuckygse.com/collegiate-pitch/