Problems with pests led to business class pitch idea

Sometimes, finals can be tests of a different sort, leading to interesting growth challenges.

Purdue University Fort Wayne undergraduate students in the Doermer School of Business’ innovation and startup economics class were given an interesting task during the first semester. They were instructed to develop pitches for new products, a process that included coming up with the concept, researching it, assessing the financial needs, and planning implementation. Under the direction of Nodir Adilov, DSB dean and class instructor, six groups of three students displayed their efforts on Dec. 12. This was the first presentation in the business school’s entrepreneurship and innovative design center, with a group of seven outside judges determining the top pitches.

The winning proposal by Connor Cook, Brayden Simmons, and Ye Yint Phone Myint, consisted of a new way to catch rodents called “PestSmart.” It earned the group a $900 prize funded through an Avis Foundation grant, which was secured by the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement.

“It came from me servicing rodent control jobs,” Simmons said. “I remember thinking I was spending a lot of time doing this when it could be automated.”

Rodents enter the box system, eat the food, and then die after leaving the device, creating less need for cleanup.  

“We all had our own ideas initially and brought them together to evaluate what made the most sense in the real world,” Cook said. “We decided Brayden’s idea was the most feasible.”

The group developed a prototype mid-semester and plans on further research that might lead to production. The immediate goal is to experiment with 3D printing, injection molding, and other types of manufacturing to assess cost-effectiveness.

“I’ve kind of wanted to start my own pest control company for a while, so if I could venture into making products that the pest control industry uses, that would be pretty cool,” Simmons said.

Members of the group said the exercise was challenging and interesting.

“On the economic principles, the professor did a great job teaching us how to identify gaps in the market and then applying that to our innovative idea to see how we can fill those gaps,” Cook said.

Second place, and a $300 prize, went to the group of Katy Krider, Patrick Kluger, and Nik Travis for “Calend4r,” a mobile app that would theoretically combine the services of several online products into one. The goal of a “Calend4r” app would be to help students better organize their work, study, and social activities.

The goal was to target college freshmen with help on time management, organization, university retention, and possible underperformance through an interpretive software system.

Third place was awarded to “Roots & Wings,” presented by Ethan Wei, Kyle McKenzie, and Krish Sanwalka. It’s an app fostering communication between families and students. The idea is to encourage personal and academic support.