Watch PitchUp 2026 via the livestream link above.
12 students. 2 minutes each. No notes, no slides.
On Wednesday, November 4, twelve Calvin University students took the stage in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Recital Hall for PitchUp 2026. Each one had two minutes to pitch their business from memory to a panel of judges and a packed room.
Some came with early ideas. Some came with businesses they're already running and growing. Either way, every pitch had a real "why" behind it - a person they wanted to help or a problem they were tired of seeing. That's what made the night.
Meet the 12 founders who pitched
Here's who took the stage, in pitch order:
1. William Pettifer - SimplySwim. An AI lineup and meet-management tool that saves swim and track coaches hours of building heat sheets and lineups by hand.
2. Brandon Meyers - Vantage Builds. A design-build company creating one-of-a-kind spaces in homes, like private gyms, golf simulator rooms and hidden rooms.
3. Hannah Kok - Scout. A location-scouting app built by a photographer for photographers, with a map of real shoot spots shared by the community.
4. Ephraim Dykstra - NIX. A software that helps reduce screentime through competition with friends and family.
5. Chukwuemeka Anayo-Ezikeoha - Connect-ED. A peer learning platform where students help each other with homework, and tough questions move up to upperclassmen.
6. Sam Schutte - Prophet. An AI assisted platform that helps service based businesses through personalized marketing.
7. Samuel Ntadom - Imu-Asusu. AI software that helps history educators and researchers teach from a global, non-Eurocentric perspective.
8. Seth Anderson - Jackpot Golf. A floating golf green at waterfront restaurants and venues, where anyone can take a shot at a $10,000 hole-in-one jackpot.
9. Mykhailo Bukovietski - Grand Rapids Mobile Notary Service. A bilingual mobile notary who comes to you, whether that's your home, a hospital room or a retirement home.
10. Paul Kumswa - Outside. A platform that finds the concerts and community events happening around you, so you never miss the good stuff.
11. Natalie Vander Moren - Grandpa's Garage. An app that lets neighbors and friends share garage tools, save money and keep track of who borrowed what.
12. Nick Logan - PurePond Solutions. A one-stop shop for pond care, from treatments and aeration systems to water features, that Nick started a year and a half ago.
And the winners are...
After all 12 pitches, a raffle game and some serious score tallying, the judges handed out the checks:
• 1st place ($1,000): Sam Schutte, Prophet
• 2nd place ($800): Nick Logan, PurePond Solutions
• 3rd place ($400): Mykhailo Bukovietski, Grand Rapids Mobile Notary Service
• 4th place ($250): Chukwuemeka Anayo-Ezikeoha, Connect-ED
Congratulations to all four winners - we can't wait to see what you do next.
The people who made it happen
Our judges scored every pitch on desirability, viability, feasibility and presentation. Thank you for giving your time and your honest feedback:
• Cam Lockrey - GigNGo
• Leslie Fiorenzo - Business Speaking Solutions
• Fallon McMurray - Grace Christian University
Our emcees, Jon VerLee and Macy Reeder, kept the energy high all night, from the first pitch to the final raffle.
Thank you
A big thank you to the student volunteers who ran check-in, the vote count, lights, audio and the timer, and to Mia Andringa for capturing the night on camera. And thank you to everyone who showed up and cheered these founders on. You made the room.
Watching these students pitch was a good reminder that God is working through the next generation of founders, and we got a front-row seat.
Get plugged in
Whether you pitched, cheered from the seats or are still sitting on an idea, there's a place for you at Startup Garage. Everything we offer founders is free, with no strings attached, for every stage of business and life. Come to an event, join a Forge group or just reach out to say hi.
