The 11th annual competition celebrates innovation with record-breaking female participation and first-year student involvement
The Hurt Hub@Davidson recently hosted its milestone 11th annual Nisbet Venture Fund Pitch Competition, awarding $32,500 in total funding to promising student ventures. The event drew over 150 participants both in-person and virtually, marking a record year for both first-year student participation and female entrepreneur representation.
Established through the generosity of Marian Nisbet and Chip Nisbet ’86 in 2014, the program provides six weeks of comprehensive entrepreneurial education and mentorship. This transformative experience culminates in a competitive pitch event showcasing the innovative spirit of Davidson College students and recent alumni.
2025 Nisbet Venture Fund Winners
Acceleration Track ($25,000 equity investment)
BizCards – Founded by Odysseas Koufos ’25
BizCards represents a breakthrough in digital hospitality, allowing hotel guests to bypass traditional check-in processes. The innovation provides virtual key cards delivered directly to guests’ mobile devices through Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. What sets BizCards apart is its proprietary technology that works with existing door lock hardware, eliminating the need for expensive upgrades.
“Winning the Nisbet Venture Fund is not an easy task. It takes grit, drive and consistency but it’s one of the only clear paths for future success,” reflected Koufos. “This award serves as a stage to finally be heard from angel investors and VCs because it shows that someone believes in you.”
Incubation Track ($5,000 grant)
Zip – Founded by Cillian Hallinan ’28, Isaiah Dinar ’28, and Daulet Berdikulov ’28
Zip addresses transportation challenges with a college-focused rideshare and taxi service emphasizing safety, affordability, and community. The platform offers students reliable transportation options while providing wage-based driving opportunities to their peers.
The Zip team highlighted the transformative nature of the program: “The Nisbet Venture Fund training program put a holistic perspective on our business idea. We now had to look beyond what we thought the problem was and find the true problem and solution through talking to our customers. The funding completely changes ZIP’s direction and will make our open beta launch possible.”
Entrepreneurial Excellence Award ($2,500 grant)
SideQuest – Founded by Gavin Higgins ’28 and Niko Cope ’28
SideQuest tackles low student engagement through an innovative application connecting students with college and community events using gamification methods.
“Winning the Entrepreneurial Excellence award allows us to keep pushing forward on a problem we care deeply about—low student engagement on college campuses,” said Cope.
Co-founder Higgins added, “This award is an incredible vote of confidence as we continue building a solution and growing as entrepreneurs.”
Expert Mentorship and Industry Guidance
The competition featured mentorship from 20 industry professionals, including Davidson alumni, Hurt Hub coworking members, and LaunchCLT participants. These mentors provided invaluable guidance to all finalists throughout the six-week accelerator program.
Liz Brigham, the W. Spencer Mitchem ’59 Executive Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, welcomed attendees by highlighting the Hurt Hub’s commitment to values of freedom, integrity, and inclusion.
“Tonight’s competition showcases those students and young alums who dare to disturb the universe with their bold business ideas,” she said. “The Nisbet Venture Fund’s six-week accelerator program demonstrates the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that thrives at Davidson College.”
Documentary Premiere: Student to Founder
The event also featured the premiere of “Student to Founder: Entrepreneurial Excellence at Davidson College,” a new documentary capturing the journeys of recent Nisbet Venture Fund winners. Filmed, edited, and produced by Pablo Quintero ’28, the documentary offers an intimate look at how the Nisbet Venture Fund and other Hurt Hub programs empower Davidson students to transform their visions into reality.
Learn More About Student Entrepreneurship at Davidson
Interested in watching the full pitch competition and documentary? Visit the Hurt Hub YouTube channel.
For more information about the Nisbet Venture Fund and opportunities to get involved, visit the official Nisbet Venture Fund page.
