Three students from the Tickle College of Engineering won awards at the fall 2024 Graves Business Plan Competition. Grant Coggin, a senior chemical engineering major, and Brian Washington, a PhD chemical engineering student, placed second in their respective categories, while Anna Chen, a senior industrial and systems engineering major, placed third.
The Graves Business Plan Competition is a two-category pitch competition that provides real-world experience for student entrepreneurs twice a year at the University of Tennessee. Hosted by the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation housed in the Haslam College of Business, the fall 2024 competition featured an array of businesses founded by undergraduate and graduate students from colleges all across campus, who pitched their companies to a panel of expert judges.
Placing in the Competition
Coggin placed second in the lifestyle category, which is for startups targeted to support local or smaller-scale opportunities. He was awarded $3,000 for Pink Apron, a bakery service that supplies high quality European-styled pastries to local bakeries and events in Knoxville. The company, which Coggin co-founded, also won the lifestyle category in the Spring 2024 Graves Business Plan Competition.
“Winning the Graves Business Competition validates our business plan and helps to launch us even further,” Coggin said. “The Anderson Center has helped Pink Apron not only start but continue to grow.”
Washington placed second in the growth category, which is for startups seeking large investment with high scalability. He was awarded $3,000 for AluminAiry, a business Washington co-founded that TCE featured in September.
Chen placed third in the growth category, and was awarded $2,000 for Student2Student Career Coaching, a business that helps students take control of their career journeys by offering affordable, high-value guidance on resumes, interviews, and personal branding. Chen aims to bridge the gap for students from non-target and underserved schools and equip them with the tools they need to break into competitive industries.
“Winning the Graves Business Plan Competition is an incredible boost for Student2Student Career Coaching, providing us with the resources and momentum to expand our reach and impact,” Chen said. “This recognition affirms our mission to create accessible career opportunities for students and empowers us to take our vision to the next level. We’re immensely grateful for this opportunity and excited to broaden our impact and support even more students and professionals on their career journeys.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, rpotkey@utk.edu)