Student Entrepreneurs to Compete in 2026 Pirates Pitch Startup Competition
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Do you dream of one day being an entrepreneur? Do you watch Shark Tank and wonder how contestants turn ideas into thriving ventures? Seton Hall University
has an event for you.
On Wednesday evening, April 8, Seton Hall University’s top student entrepreneurs will pitch their innovative startup concepts to a panel of distinguished judges as they compete for $16,000 in seed funding.
Students, faculty, alumni, parents and members of the community are invited to an exciting evening of innovation at the 16th annual Pirates Pitch Startup Competition. The in-person event will take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the University Center Theatre and will showcase startup businesses developed by the six finalist teams that have advanced to the championship round. The competition will also be livestreamed. To access the livestream, please click here.
Attendees will have an opportunity to select their favorite finalist team and vote for the $500 Audience Choice Award. Dean Joyce Strawser will provide opening remarks to kick off the competition. Members of the Entrepreneurship Club will serve as emcees.
The event is the centerpiece of the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s entrepreneurship education program. “The goal of Pirates Pitch is to cultivate the ambitious drive of student entrepreneurs and provide an opportunity for them to make their dreams a reality,” said Susan Scherreik, M.B.A., director of the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Seton Hall University students are launching businesses as never before, and this year’s contest will showcase both operating startups and business models still in development.
Successful alumni entrepreneurs will serve as judges at the contest, including Bryan Jakovcic '09, president and owner, Fusion Health; Gabino Roche,’98, chief executive officer and founder, Saphyre; Carina Castagna ‘21/M.P.A. ‘22, founder and chief executive officer, Pesto Joe; and Juliet Payseur, `11/M.B.A. `13, owner, Curated Realty.
The judges will be looking for creative and innovative thinking about new markets, products and services, as well as each team’s ability to execute their ideas and build sustainable ventures. Student businesses may be either for-profit enterprises or nonprofit initiatives that address societal challenges.
The student teams will be judged on their live pitches, as well as business plans submitted in advance. Based on these criteria, judges will select first-, second- and third-place winners.
Prizes include:
- First Place: $8,000
- Second Place: $4,500
- Third Place: $3,000
- Audience Choice Award: $500
In addition, finalists will have the opportunity to participate in the Pirates LaunchPad summer accelerator program and earn an additional $2,000 in seed funding.
The Student Finalists
The finalists, listed in alphabetical order by the first team member’s last name,
are:
- Aakash Arumugam, a junior studying biology, along with teammates Aidan Griffin, a senior studying finance and technology, and Joseph Butler, a junior studying economics and finance, created the Iron Strong Health Initiative, Inc., a nonprofit focused on raising awareness about iron deficiency and anemia through an app that helps users identify potential risks and seek early medical evaluation.
- Thomas (TJ) Deneault, a senior studying marketing and entrepreneurship, developed Macro Chef, a gamified mobile app designed to help young users build healthy cooking and nutrition habits through meal tracking, rewards and interactive challenges.
- Will Martin, a sophomore studying economics, leads the team behind Emerald Editor, an AI-powered video editing platform that helps small businesses and content creators quickly transform raw footage into polished, professional-quality videos.
- Bryce Miller, a senior studying finance and technology and marketing, alongside teammates Maria Saitta, a junior studying accounting; Madeleine Mazgaj, a senior studying finance and technology and accounting; and Ashlyn McCormick, a sophomore studying marketing, developed NatureFill, a sustainability-focused startup that uses smart refill kiosks to reduce single-use plastic waste in personal care products.
- Jeimy Simon, a senior studying public relations, is the founder of PURE, an operating business that offers affordable, oil-based designer-inspired fragrances designed to provide long-lasting scent at a lower price point.
- Ji Ming Zhang, an M.B.A. candidate, created Oustify, an app designed to help small property owners navigate the eviction process by providing step-by-step guidance, legal documentation support and automated compliance tools.
