U-Pitch competition fosters cross-departmental collaboration, creativity, and professional development

On May 14, 2026, WWU's Fine Arts Center auditorium filled with hundreds of students, faculty, and staff who attended this year’s U-Pitch competition. The event was hosted by the School of Business with support from the Business Club and the Associated Students of Walla Walla University (ASWWU).

“It was inspiring to watch students challenge themselves and present with so much professionalism and passion on competition day,” said Nicolás Echeverría, junior business administration major, U-Pitch Coordinator, and first place winner at last year's U-Pitch Competition.

Alongside George Perez, associate professor of management and marketing and U-Pitch lead, Echeverría helped advertise and produce one of the most heavily attended U-Pitch finals in years. 

Even the judges noted the strong audience presence and overall engagement throughout the evening that helped create an exciting and supportive environment for the student entrepreneurs.

Bruce Toews, associate dean of the School of Business, began the program by honoring WWU alum, Fred Cornforth, who started and funded WWU's entrepreneurship competition many years ago. Fred, a prominent Idaho businessman and entrepreneur, used his creative talents to make the world a better place in many ways. Sadly, Fred lost his battle to cancer so he couldn't participate in the evening's program, but he would have been very proud of every budding entrepreneur. 

The competition began with 12 teams, five of which made it to the finals. Caleb Osorio, sophomore cybersecurity major, and Gabriel Monteiro-Gomes, senior music production major, teamed up as Vocal Vault to present The Gabe Chain—a one-click professional vocal mixing preset that maintains the integrity of the singer’s original sound.  Vocal Vault took home first place.

“We chose to compete because we wanted to introduce an idea that would make an impact,” said Osorio. Both students really enjoyed the whole process of this competition. They now plan on utilizing their winnings and experience to publicly launch The Gabe Chain this August.

Samuel Moudy, a mechanical engineering student, was another strong contestant. His product, CTPad, was an electronic drum pad built for every drummer, every need, and every space. Not only did he take second place in the overall competition but he also won the Audience Choice Award and the Mission Driven Award.

The third place winner was Jackson Payne who created Cieo, an app for harnessing the power of music to motivate runners. 

The runner-ups were Jonathan Alvarez, who created Paw Easy, an ergonomic tool for pet groomers suffering from joint pain, and twins Ana and Maria Ruiz who created Twins Bakery, a business focused on creating healthier desserts that don’t taste “healthy.”

This year’s judges included: Kol Medina, President and CEO of the Blue Mountain Community Foundation; Elizabeth Hernandez, WWU alumna and sales associate for Mercedes-Benz of Bellevue; and Paul Bowen, certified business advisor with the Washington State Small Business Development Center.  The Blue Mountain Community Foundation was also a significant sponsor of the event.

“Beyond the possibility of winning a prize, the U-Pitch experience helps students build confidence, improve their communication and public speaking skills, and learn how to present their ideas in a professional setting,” said Echeverría. “U-Pitch gives students the opportunity to turn curiosity into confidence, and I think that is one of the most valuable parts of the experience.”