Nine teams of Lubar student entrepreneurs competed in the 2025 La Macchia New Venture Business Plan Competition, gaining invaluable mentorship and feedback from successful entrepreneurs and business consultants.
Lubar College of Business student entrepreneurs presented their plans and responded to questions from a panel of expert judges. Long-time supporters Bill and the late Sharon La Macchia have supported the competition since 2008. Bill La Macchia is the founder of Mark Travel Corporation and Trisept Solutions, global leaders in travel services and travel technology (now with Apple Leisure Group). This year’s top honors went to:
First Prize: Strategic Edge AI
The $15,000 first-prize winner is Strategic Edge AI, owned by Ed Foote, a graduate student in the Lubar College’s investment management certificate program.Strategic Edge AI is a financial technology company that develops modular, customizable artificial intelligence tools for equity research and financial analysis for mid-sized and smaller asset management firms. The tools will accelerate the equity research process, analysis and decision making.
Second Prize: Automated Labor & Solutions
In its early stages, Automated Labor & Solutions Smart is the $7,500 second-prize winner. Automated Labor & Solutions Smart will bring to market an off-the-shelf automated solution to unskilled labor costs and productivity, manufacturing automation costs, and conversion time. The venture was started by Devan Dorzok, who is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management.
Third Prize: Red Yeti Racing
Mike Cerny’s (’20 MBA) Red Yeti Racing took the $5,000 third prize. The company’s first product, the Tire DRYR (trademark pending), is an accessory for air compressors. The portable tool removes moisture from the air entering a car’s tires, reducing deterioration and improving performance.
About the Competition
The La Macchia New Venture Business Plan Competition was launched in 2008 to simulate the real-world process of entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from early-stage investors and venture capital firms. UWM students and recent graduates who enter the contest must demonstrate a market opportunity, unique benefits, competitive advantage, clear operational and marketing strategies, and financial viability, and are judged by a panel of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
The competition is directed by Steven Michael, Bostrom Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and supported by several successful entrepreneurs and experts who served as judges, mentors, and workshop presenters.
The following served on the panel of judges for the competition:
- Alan Katz, President, Katz Consulting, and Founder of Katz Bagels
- Dick Marcus, Associate Professor Emeritus, Finance
- George Satula, Vistage (TEC) Chairman, Vistage Worldwide
In the months preceding the competition, the following served as mentors to the venture teams, providing valuable guidance for formulation and presentation of their business plans:
- Jude Anders, Consultant (Retired), Shoreline Concepts, LLC
- Kevin Baumgart, President, Set Sales: Sales and Management Expert
- David Irwin, General Partner, Hiawatha, and President, Chapter Apps
- Paul Jensen, Serial entrepreneur
- Mark Ship, Principal and Business Advisor, Sandler & Ship
- Kyle Stephens, President and Co- Founder at Craft Beverage Warehouse LLC
At the outset of the process, the following individuals presented workshops on developing effective new venture business plans to interested students:
- Melanie Manuel, Business Consultant, UWM Small Business Development Center
- Melanie Michael, Adjunct Professor in Marketing and Communication at Marquette University