Chapman University’s annual panther cage match It has been open to the community since this year.
More than 40 teams and individuals applied to participate in Cage Match, a “Shark Tank”-style business pitching contest held April 12 at Chapman’s. Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics. Five teams were selected as finalists in the student and non-student categories. Eight judges evaluated each pitch, and the winner in each category received $1,500 and feedback from the judges.
The winners in the student category were Beckman High School seniors Mandy Shi and Lauren Cho, who designed a travel app called SimplyFly. The winner of the non-student pitch is Cornelius Hojatkashani designed a bandana that keeps dog leashes from getting tangled.
Although they didn’t win, Chapman student finalists Isaac Persky and Ben Shafter learned from the experience. The two, who are scheduled to graduate in 2026, pitched DormPour, a box-shaped water purifier that fits in a dormitory-sized refrigerator.
“It was a great experience to be able to stand up, pitch, listen to feedback, and have to put together a pitch,” said Persky, an economics and public relations major.
The students came up with DormPour after having a bad experience with a Brita pitcher. Shelves had to be removed to fit the pitcher in the refrigerator, and regular refills were time-consuming. They started working on the idea of a water filter that could hold more than just a pitcher at the beginning of the school year. They describe the product as “reimagining hydration for college students, once in a while.”
Persky said he was attracted to the possibility of becoming an entrepreneur after interning at venture capital firm Gainels in New York. Shafter, who has not declared his major, utilized the computer design skills he learned in engineering classes. By participating in Cage Match, students learned how to hone their pitch by communicating their passion for their ideas and work ethic.
“We’re going to keep working and keep moving forward.” — If we have the opportunity to throw more, we’re definitely going to do it,” Persky said.
The cage match was the culmination of a series of pitching events held at the Leatherby Center. In November, Tech Coast Angels president David Friedman talked about “perfect pitch.” In December, students gave a three-minute presentation to an expert panel.
This year, some of the cage match contestants were also part of the Leatherby Center’s incubator program. The center has expanded its impact in the community through initiatives such as: $1 million state grant Designating it the Inclusive Innovation Hub of Orange County.
