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Pepperdine | Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Fast Pitch

The Social Entrepreneurship & Change program culminates with a two-term capstone project devising a new social enterprise or related project within an existing organization. Students develop a thorough business plan and go-to-market strategy in collaboration with successful mentors and faculty who are scholar-practitioners and nationally recognized experts. Validated ideas are presented to industry leaders in a “Shark Tank” style Fast Pitch Competition with multiple participants receiving funding to launch their venture.  Here are our past winners over the years.

2024 Winner

Michelle Boghossian

Michelle Boghossian

Palettes of Positivity

Michelle Boghossian is passionate about bringing mental health awareness, support, and resources to children in underserved communities. She created Palettes of Positivity as an outlet for children to comfortably navigate through difficult emotions they may be experiencing with the help of professional art therapists.

Not only will they be providing professional art therapy for these children, but they will also have an innovative app linked to their business that allows the children to upload their one-of-a-kind artwork to a digital marketplace. More importantly, the app facilitates effortless connections between artists and buyers, thereby ensuring financial stability for the children's future. Michelle believes that using creative expression through art allows us to color the lives and restore the minds of our future generations who may be struggling with their own mental health issues and financial stability.

2021 Winner

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Maria Argenal

MIA

To manufacture affordable and high-quality period products that provide all menstruators with environmentally sustainable alternatives that are in harmony with their health and, with quality menstrual health education programs, WASH initiatives, and community partnerships, tackle the issue of period poverty in rural and remote areas in Nicaragua. 


2020 Winner

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Diane Rose Solomon

Animal Magic Films

Produces and distributes documentary films that spotlight the extraordinary bonds between animals and humans and the power of these bonds to benefit people physically, emotionally, and cognitively.


2019 Winner

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Kacey Beltz

The Freedom Tour Company

Provides historical walking tours of Philadelphia by training and employing former incarcerated individuals as tour guides; training emphasizes public speaking, customer service, and specific hospitality/tourism industry skills.


2018 Winner

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LaShawn Taylor

Collaborative Justice Coalition

Dedicated to improving the relationships between communities and law enforcement by providing implicit bias training to law enforcement agencies.


2017 Winner

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Michelle Ellena

Santuario Animal 94

A Compassion for Animals campus in Chile that includes a low-cost animal hospital, no-kill shelter, and educational programs; financed by local government, philanthropic and private institutions, and vet services; other campuses to follow worldwide.


2016 Winner

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Susan Cotton

The Lily Project

Improves the health and well-being of girls and women in Nicaragua through a women-centered model of development and care.