Walla Walla University's Fine Arts Center auditorium welcomed more than 300 attendees as students, faculty, and staff all came to watch this year’s U-Pitch finalists compete. The event was hosted by the university’s School of Business with support from the Business Club and the Associated Students of Walla Walla University.
“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 and U-Pitch Competition Coordinator.
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.
The competition began with 12 teams, with five teams making 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—and took home first place.
“We chose to compete because we wanted to introduce an idea to make an impact,” said Osorio. Both students really enjoyed the whole process of this competition, and now plan on utilizing their competition 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, every space. Not only did he take second place but also the Audience Choice Award and the Mission Driven Award, for his clear commitment to fellow drummers over profits.
In third place was Cieo, an app for tracking music listening and motivation. The runner-ups were Paw Easy, an ergonomic tool for pet groomers suffering from joint pain, and Twins Bakery, a business focused on creating healthier desserts that don’t taste “healthy.”
This year’s panelists included: Kol Medina, President and CEO of the Blue Mountain Community; Elizabeth Hernandez, sales associate for Mercedes-Benz of Bellevue, WWU alumna, and past U-Pitch winner; and Paul Bowen, certified business advisor with the Washington State Small Business Development Center.
“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.”
To learn more about the School of Business and its other club opportunities and annual events, visit wallawalla.edu/business.
Posted May 29, 2026.
