A Day in The Life of A Student Founder at a Pitch Competition: 2024 ACC InVenture Prize - Day 2

Welcome back for Day 2 of the 2024 ACC InVenture Prize Competition. I must admit, I woke up this day nervoussssss. I was excited to be pitching, but on TV?!?!? Why did I sign myself up for this?!? The good news was that ACC planned a jam-packed day of activities to keep us nice and distracted from the competition ahead.

If you can believe it, Day 2 was even more jam-packed than Day 1. Here’s a breakdown of what we did – hour-by-hour.

Aurganics x 2024 ACC InVenture Prize Competition: Day 2 – MOM, I’M ON TV!

8:30 AM

Our day began bright and early with a free Hampton Inn breakfast (which was surprisingly better than I thought!)

9:30 AM

Next, we met our university reps in the hotel lobby and headed to Florida State’s High Performance Materials Institute (HPMI)... on a very rainy bus.

9:45 AM

We took a tour of the HPMI and got to learn more about Florida State! Even though we’re a skincare company, it was really cool to see all the high-tech, innovative equipment being used to create more solutions to the problems we face every day.

10:15 AM

Back on the bus we went, and to Maglab we drove!

10:30 AM

Time for a tour of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, AKA Maglab, AKA home of the world’s largest magnet! (Have I ever cared about magnets before this competition? Okay, maybe not, but seeing the world’s largest of anything is still sick.)

11:00 AM

Back on the bus… this time on the way to Florida State University’s Innovation Hub.

11:15 AM

We toured FSU’s Innovation Hub. Compared to Duke’s I&E Hub, this place was niceeeee. They had 3D printers, work stations, a pitch room, you name it. Honestly, really cool.

12:10 PM

We walked to Suwannee Cafeteria for lunch, which was, unfortunately, not better than Duke’s West Union (WU). Yes, I’m biased. No, I’m not changing my mind. Shoutout FSU for hosting tho :)

(Side note: It was somehow still raining and quite mucky outside, but I think Edwin running through the rain covering his hair made it all worth it for me. Watch it in the vlog here.)

12:45 PM

Time to go back to the hotel, and time to prep for the show! Yes, we were prepping for the show (to be aired at 7 PM) SIX hours before — and they made it clear that we would not return back to the hotel until after the show around 10 PM. Sigh.

1:00 PM

This hour FLEW by, but essentially it went something like this: run around, practice the pitch, start hair and makeup, prepare mentally, look in the mirror, try not to psych myself out, run around some more, then run to the bus.

2:15 PM

It’s time! Well, almost. We left the hotel and headed to WFSU Studios for our full tech rehearsal (which is different than the blocking rehearsal, but still somehow took 2.5 hours).

2:30 PM

Full tech rehearsal with WFSU, PBS, and the crew. All I can remember is trying to figure out how to maneuver the mic through my polo quickly, constantly reminding myself to put the clicker back for the next team, and being hungry AF. Also, they were doing hair and makeup during this time, so we were running back and forth from the main set to the back room like our lives depended on it. Did I mention we were hungry?

6:00 PM

Time for dinner (FINALLY). They got dinner catered, and it was AMAZING. Sadly, I was so hungry that my phone couldn't eat first — but take my word for it?

6:30 PM

30 very short minutes later, it was already time for the stage call. AKA put on your lipgloss, take your places, remember your cues, and prepare yourself, because we’re about to be live on TV. On PBS. The channel I used to watch growing up. Don’t freak out, don’t freak out, don’t freak out.

Here’s what went down (from ACC): “ACC InVenture Prize Final Round Broadcast: Broadcast LIVE from PBS television studios to affiliates in regions across ACC university campuses and online. All teams will field a final crucial question from our judges in order to determine once and for all which teams take the 1st and 2nd prizes, and which team is voted most popular in People’s Choice.”

7:00 PM

WE’RE LIVE! My team and I represented Duke University and did a live pitch for my plant-powered skincare company, Aurganics! Watch our pitch here.

8:30 PM

We “celebrated” the teams’ wins a bit, then hopped back on the PARTY bus – because the day’s (somehow) not over yet! With music blasting and LED lights flashing, we headed to FSU Oglesby Student Union Bowling Alley for the reception and after-party.

8:45 PM

We arrived at the bowling alley, where I learned that I am NOT good at bowling. Like actually abysmal. Edwin on the other hand, absolutely ate us up. See proof of my bowling prowess below.

9:30 PM

Back to the hotel!

10:00 PM

The day’s activities were finally over. Time to exhale.

Though we had a killer pitch, we didn’t take home any of the colorful plaque thingies. But! It’s not about winning or losing (after 5 months, I can say this and actually mean it). It’s about the EXPERIENCE, which was absolutely sick. One-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime type stuff. Respectfully, I don’t think most student founders can say they got flewed out to Florida to pitch their company on live television. HUGE shoutout to Duke University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program, Anna Jacobs (who coordinated everything but was also the unofficial chaperone/trip mom), and last but certainly not least, my teammates Samiat Bakare and Edwin Yu.

Missed Day 1? Read all about it here. Wanna watch the video version? Check out my vlog.

Day 3 - The Return

This is kinda a bonus day, but it sure didn’t feel like it…

4:30 AM

Bright and early wake-up! Except it was pitch black and I was still half-asleep (and recovering from yesterday’s L)... anyways, it’s time to go to the airport!

5:45 AM

Made it to the airport, and Anna (our school rep/trip mom) got us all Dunkin’. They had a pretty cool coffee tap that I hadn’t seen before (is that a Florida thing?)