Inferno Pitch builds winning design, mobile assist device

NATCHITOCHES – Matthew Gamble won first prize at Northwestern State University School of Business Inferno Pitch, a business plan competition that provides skill-building advice to NSU students to launch entrepreneurial ideas. Gamble is a senior business administration major from Shelbyville, Texas, and earned $3,000 to pitch a patented design and business plan for Rise and Rotate, a device he and his stepfather developed to help individuals with limited mobility. was designed and developed for

Second place went to Bradford Morrison for History Holes, a miniature golf course in historic Natchitoches, and a $1,000 prize. Kylie Morgan took third place and a $500 prize for NextGen Smart.

Cajun Kitty Café, a cafe featuring locally roasted coffee, baked goods and cats available for adoption, and for truck drivers such as Obed Ramirez García, Parker Blanchard, Alexander Brown, Dustin Chandler, Moses Gonzales and John Monlezun There was also competition with the team. Only, a social media platform for individual truck drivers.

All top five finishers have the option to compete in the Entrepreneurship Pelicans Cup, a statewide business planning competition. The winners of the Pelicans Cup will be awarded $25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second place, and $10,000 for third place, which will be divided among team members.

Eligible Inferno Pitch participants were required to submit an application and attend workshops. Finalists made their final pitch to a panel of judges from local business and education leaders.

Dr. Carmella Parker, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Outreach and Special Projects for the School of Business, organized and hosted the final pitch.

“We are very excited for, and proud of, our participants, finalists and winners,” Parker said. “This competition provided them with the opportunity to apply the skills they learned at our AASCB Accredited School of Business. These entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial skills are in high demand; therefore, I am looking forward to recruiting employers in my area and/or future clients of our students. I’m excited for that too.”

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