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Kyler Wilson's new business concept, CyberSolutions, earned him $2,000 in prize money during the fourth annual innovatesa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú Pitch Challenge held Feb. 22 on the University of North Georgia's (sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú) Dahlonega Campus.

Wilson explained how cybersecurity threats are on the rise and many small business owners may not be educated on the subject. He said they believe they are immune to cybercrimes because thieves would be more interested in larger companies. CyberSolutions would provide a full technical set-up, educating employees about cybersecurity and building up information technology departments, if needed.

Wilson said that his company would offer a hands-on approach, recurring support, and affordability for the roughly 31 million small businesses in the United States.

Judges told Wilson, a senior from Alpharetta, Georgia, pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, that his potential market is quite large and suggested potential clients and collaborators.

We have had a wide variety of great ideas over the years spanning low-tech to high-tech ideas.

Dr. Ruben Boling

director of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Broussard is a senior from Ball Ground, Georgia, pursuing a degree in marketing. The app would allow video of athletes to be uploaded and reviewed by coaches who would offer solutions to athletes not reaching peak performance. Plans for the app include adding sports to the current baseball and softball offerings.

Selected by audience members, the people's choice recipient was cadet J.T. Lockwood, with Hiatus Catamarans, who received $500. Lockwood's business concept was the creation of a newly styled catamaran that combines the stability and efficiency of catamarans with more traditional boat styling. A senior from Davie, Florida, pursuing a degree in management, Lockwood plans to commission into the U.S. Army as a quartermaster officer in May.  

Other competitors included Lacyn Miller, owner of Lacy B’s Barkery, who bakes dog treats. Cadet Ryan Fosner pitched a nonprofit program to take incarcerated teens into the wilderness and teach life skills so they could return as contributing members of society. Cadet Jordan Cook explained "The Drink Index," his idea for an app that would offer alcoholic beverage pairings for food.

"We have had a wide variety of great ideas over the years spanning low-tech to high-tech ideas," Dr. Ruben Boling, director of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, said.

Ideas were judged by professional judges on five criteria: innovativeness, marketability, market size, inventor passion and the probability of becoming a successful business.

The judges were Chris Colson, head of innovation in the retail payments office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and adjunct professor at sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú; Rajpal Sagoo, managing partner of MDD Holdings; and Chris Smith, owner of CB Smith & Associates accounting firm.