JWU’s SharkFest winners announced

WINNERS OF SharkFest 2015, the entrepreneurial contest recently held at Johnson & Wales University, are shown from left:  second place winner Matt Tortora, Providence campus; third place winners Colby Fraser and Abdiel Elou, Providence campus; JWU Providence Campus president and chief operating officer Mim L. Runey; People's Choice Award winners Becky Giambarresi and Luis Rivera, Providence campus; first place winner Blake Mitkoff, Charlotte campus; and JWU Chancellor John J. Bowen. / COURTESY STEVE SOPER
WINNERS OF SharkFest 2015, the entrepreneurial contest recently held at Johnson & Wales University, are shown from left: second place winner Matt Tortora, Providence campus; third place winners Colby Fraser and Abdiel Elou, Providence campus; JWU Providence Campus president and chief operating officer Mim L. Runey; People's Choice Award winners Becky Giambarresi and Luis Rivera, Providence campus; first place winner Blake Mitkoff, Charlotte campus; and JWU Chancellor John J. Bowen. / COURTESY STEVE SOPER

PROVIDENCE – Blake Mitkoff, a culinary arts and food service management major from the Charlotte, N.C., campus, came in first place at Johnson & Wales University’s fourth annual “SharkFest” student entrepreneurship competition last week for “ChefBook,” an online service for customers who need chefs for private or temporary on-site work.

The competition, held April 2 at Schneider Auditorium, featured 12 finalists from Johnson & Wales’ four campuses – Charlotte, Denver, Miami and Providence.

Second place went to Matt Tortora, a Providence campus student studying food service and entrepreneurship who created “WhatsGood,” an online service and virtual marketplace to tie in purveyors’ needs to one customized network.

Third place went to Providence campus students Abdiel Elou and Colby Fraser, engineering majors who created “The Buddy System,” a customized bracelet that syncs to a Smart phone to contact friends, family members or authorities in times of distress.

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The People’s Choice Award, which was voted on by audience members, went to Luis Rivera and Becky Giambarresi, culinary nutrition majors from the Providence campus for “The Hippothecary Food Pharmacy.” It is a fully functional pharmacy that designs research-based food products for people with certain ailments or conditions.

The three highest ranking finalists receive, in order, a stipend for $2,500; $1,500; and $1,000. They are also given office space in the Entrepreneurship Center, mentoring by an industry professional, and assistance from the staff at the Larry Friedman International Center for Entrepreneurship.
The “People’s Choice” winner receives a stipend of $500, along with mentoring by an industry professional and assistance from the center.

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