
The 2021 Championship round will be live-streamed for public viewing. Prior to the event, those who have registered will receive the link via email.
Questions? holloway.prize@unh.edu.
Holloway Prize Competition and Reception
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Paul College | 10 Garrison Avenue | Durham, NH
Entries will be narrowed down to 20 teams to competed at the Bud Albin Challenge Round on April 17. From there, the top 6 teams will be chosen to compete in the championship round. Help your favorite team take home an extra $500 by voting for them for the People's Choice Award!
#HollowayPrize
Information on the 2020 Holloway Competition will be added once confirmed.
2019 Schedule
Paul College, G75
1 p.m. Competition Opening
Welcome by Holloway Competition Chair Andrew Earle
Student Entrepreneurs Pitch Their Business Ideas
1:05 p.m. Liquid Hops
1:32 p.m. Grocery Optimizer
1:59 p.m. Ease
2:26 p.m. Break/Light Refreshments
3 p.m. VELV
3:27 p.m. Bogey Bag
3:55 p.m. Ping!
Paul College, Great Hall
4:30 p.m. Celebratory Reception & Awards Ceremony
5:10 p.m. Speaking Program
Welcome by UNH President James Dean
Paul J. Holloway Entrepreneur of the Year Announced
FIRE URC Winner Announced
People's Choice Winner Announced
Championship Round Winners Announced
Remarks by Paul J. Holloway
Closing Remarks by Paul College Dean Deborah Merrill-Sands
But before the championship, you can vote for your favorite team in the People's Choice Award and help them take home an extra $1,000! Watch the 1 minute “elevator pitches” for each team’s innovative business idea and vote for your favorite team! Make your vote count twice by also voting on our Instagram story @unhpaulcollege. Voting ends at 3:30 p.m. on May 6. Thank you for celebrating the achievements of our amazing students!
Vote for the 2025 Holloway Competition People's Choice Award
Register Now To Attend the 2025 Holloway Competition
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Come see six teams of top student entrepreneurs and innovators pitch their business plans to a panel of industry-leading judges for a chance to win the top prize of $15,000 in the 37th annual Paul J. Holloway Prize Competition.
2025 Schedule
1 p.m. Competition Opening
Room G75, Paul College Auditorium
Welcome by Holloway Competition Chair Andrew Earle
1:05 p.m. Judges Q&A with Student Entrepreneurs
Room G75, Paul College Auditorium
1:05 p.m. QuickQuery AI
1:32 p.m. Thrival
1:59 p.m. Nuelife
2:30 Break
3:00 p.m. Aerial Perspectives, LLC
3:27 p.m. Granite State Systems
3:54 Obscura AI
4:30 p.m. Celebratory Reception and Awards Ceremony
5:00 p.m. Winning Teams Announced and the
2025 Paul J. Holloway Entrepreneur of the Year award
We know you’re likely tired of virtual meetings and webinars so we’re keeping this year’s competition as close to the original as possible. While the audience will be virtual, the event is being broadcast live from the Paul College auditorium, where the student teams will present their business plans from the stage in a professionally filmed production. $30,000+ is at stake, with the winning team taking home $15,000 to launch their business to the next level. Audience members also will have a pivotal role in choosing the People’s Choice award-winning team.
2023 Schedule
1 p.m. Competition Opening
Room G75, Paul College Auditorium
Welcome by Holloway Competition Chair Andrew Earle
1:05 p.m. Judges Q&A with Student Entrepreneurs
Room G75, Paul College Auditorium
1:05 p.m. TutorUp.AI Runner up
1:32 p.m. Electric Vehicle Scoup Runner up
1:59 p.m. Takko Time Runner up
2:26 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. Spritely Spore, LLC Third Place
3:27 p.m HydroPhos First Place
3:55 p.m. Swellular - Wave Powered Communication System for First Responders Second Place and People's Choice
4:30 p.m. Celebratory Reception and Awards Ceremony
5:10 p.m. Winning Teams Announced and the
2023 Paul J. Holloway Entrepreneur of the Year will be awarded to Mary Johanna Brown.
Prizes
$15,000- 1st Place Team
$10,000- 2nd Place Team
$5,000- 3rd Place Team
$1,000- Runner-Up Teams
$2,000- People's Choice Award Winner
People's Choice Award!
to take home an extra $2,000! Make your vote count twice by also voting using an in-person ballot at the event.
Voting will close on May 8 at 4:45 p.m.
Clever Cart- Runner-up!
Clever Cart is an Augmented Reality Navigation and Advertising Platform that
empowers customers, retailers, and marketers to benefit from the most advanced AR retail application ever created. Clever Cart is first and foremost a reinvention of in-store advertising with the mission of helping Grocers across the country.
Seth Gunter, Paul College (Hometown: Amherst, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Jeff Sohl
Farified- Runner-up!
Farified provides individuals with food allergies and dietary restrictions real-time information about what foods can be eaten based on individual profiles. Through the Farified app. users will receive personalized actionable intelligence regarding dining locations, food choices, and ingredient changes. Farified is dedicated to reducing large number of adverse, sometimes fatal, food reactions and empower a community of people to make informed decisions regarding food safety.
Madison Smith, CHHS (Hometown: Moultonborough, NH)
Ann-Marie Kolberg, Paul College (Hometown: Delmar, NY)
Faculty Advisor: Jeff Sohl
HallHub- 2nd Place!
HallHub is a "Digital" Residence Hall that elevates campus communities, helping universities stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Nicolas Camara, CEPS (Hometown: San Paulo)
Garrett Frohman, CEPS (Hometown: Hudson, NH)
Caleb Peffer, CEPS (Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
LyfeStyle- Runner-up and People's Choice!
LyfeStyle is a free-to-download smartphone application which informs consumers on what activities and events are in their desired area. Utilizing the LyfeStyle app will not only benefit consumers, but businesses will be able to update their events seamlessly. All B2C businesses are supported by giving them an all in one platform to advertise. The application supports consumers' ability to be educated on any upcoming and current events that match their lifestyle or wants. Whether that be dining, entertainment, shopping or anything in between, after this pandemic everyone will be looking for an exciting night out away from their household.
Gavin Thibodeau, Paul College (Hometown: Westford, MA)
Jack Kelly, Paul College (Hometown: Wyndmoor, PA)
Justin Szabo, Paul College (Hometown: Tolland, CT)
Faculty Advisor: Bruce Pfieffer
Mongo- 3rd Place!
Mongo is new sustainable plant-based protein derived from mung beans that is high in protein, fiber and antioxidants. Mongo is versatile as it can be incorporated into stir-fry’s, wraps, scrambles and smoothies.
Jessica Nelson, Paul College (Hometown: Deerfield, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
SPAITR- 1st Place!
With SPAITR™, players and coaches can see the speed of their shot, the angle of release, and the number of reps that were taken during practice or play sessions. Coaches can hold players accountable as well as see minute details about practice sessions and games. SPAITR™ is not only a platform for viewing growth and distinct play statistics, it is also a social platform that can allow players to share their improvements, participate in team and national leaderboards, as well as interact with their teammates. Parents and relatives can also see their youth’s progress in a way that allows them to interact actively with their child's growth, in a level of detail that was previously impossible.
Brayden Esmaili, CEPS (Hometown: Wilmont, NH)
Nathaniel Hunt, COLA (Hometown: Rochester, NH)
Joey Neleber, CEPS (Hometown: Guilford, CT)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
BuddyUp- Runner-Up
BuddyUp is a wristband that allows swimmers to notify lifeguards and parents that they need help with the press of a button. The app enables lifeguards to pin point the swimmers location through the use of augmented reality. By decreasing the uncertainty in lifeguarding, BuddyUp allows swimmers to take water safety into their own hands.
Jessica Nelson, Paul College (Hometown: Deerfield, NH)
Jamie Nelson, Paul College (Hometown: Deerfield, NH)
TJ Evarts, CEPS (Hometown: Londonderry, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
ecoText, Inc.- 2nd Place & People's Choice Award
Students and their families struggle every semester to cover the high “out of pocket” costs of college textbooks. ecoText’s mission is to reduce these financial obstacles to create opportunity through affordability. ecoText bridges the gaps between colleges, publishers, professors, and students by aggregating titles onto its online platform that is set to become the ultimate collaboration learning tool for students and professors.
Dylan Wheeler, CEPS & COLA (Hometown: Bow, NH)
Nelson Thomas, COLA (Hometown: Plainfield, NJ)
Rachel Yee, COLSA (Hometown: Brewster, NY)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
HallHub- Runner-Up
Transitioning into the college environment can be difficult for incoming freshman,who may feel lonely and intimidated without their family and friends. Hallhub connects dorm residents with their RA’s, fostering meaningful relationships between residents and the hall community. RA’s can notify users of upcoming socials, release polls, and address concerns conveniently from their mobile device.
Nick Camara, CEPS (Hometown: Sao Paolo, Brazil)
Caleb Peffer, CEPS (Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
Kikori- 1st Place
Kikori is a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform that supports educators in transforming their classrooms through experiential education activities - so their students can transform the world. The benefits of experiential education and social emotional learning have been heralded in recent years as significantly improving academics, student well-being, and school climate. Kikori's easy-to-use digital platform aligns activities with curriculum, training, and impact measurement tools, supporting teachers in providing students with the whole-child education necessary to succeed inside and outside the classroom.
Kendra Bostick, GRAD (Hometown: Manton, Michigan)
Bhavya Wadhwa, GRAD (Hometown: Delhi, India)
Gayathri Venkatasrinivasan, GRAD (Hometown: Chennai, India)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
SCRAPP- 3rd Place
Scrapp is a free-to-download, gamified, smartphone application which educates consumers and rewards individuals and institutions for recycling correctly. Utilizing the theory of behavioural economics, the Scrapp App enables consumers to change their behaviour around everyday recycling activities. Scrapp supports the consumer with immediate, positive feedback and empowers them to realize that many of the materials they may be throwing away are, in fact, a valuable resource.
Mikey Pasciuto, CEPS (Hometown: Burlington, MA)
Daniel Marek, CEPS (Hometown: Ashland, UK)
Evan Gwynne Davies, CEPS (Hometown: Andover, UK)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
SQN Capital Partners- Runner-Up
SQN Capital Partners is a financial services venture which aims to deliver a sustainable and effective capital formation solution to address the structural problems inherent to the existing higher-education finance industrial complex; SQN’s core offering – the SQN Income-Share Agreement, or ISA – provides a sophisticated alternative to the antiquated portfolio of solutions available to American students today, which are reliant on a debt-capital funding model. Our ISAs – with a structure most closely analogous to that of preferred share equity – allow students to source capital via a financial instrument which more effectively accounts for the risks inherent to investment in their post-secondary educational pursuits. Similarly, the SQN ISA platform also offers investors the opportunity to place capital in an ESG compliant investment vehicle, comprised of securitized portfolio of ISAs and which delivers attractive risk-adjusted returns on their capital with ultra-low correlation coefficients to broader-market volatility events.
Cameron Horack, Paul College (Hometown: Beverly, MA)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
VELV - 1st Place
Bad breath - awkward silences - splitting the bill; there’s a lot to worry about on a first date. Your safety shouldn’t be one of them. VELV is a dating platform that provides peace of mind for your first date. Join VELV and feel good about firsts.
Christin Badylak-Reals, CEPS (Hometown: Plymouth, NH)
Jessica Lavallee, PAUL (Hometown: Keene, NH)
Matthew Ross, PAUL (Hometown: Londonderry, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
Liquid Hops - 2nd Place
Every pint of beer uses the hop plant to contribute to its bitterness, aroma and flavor. However, larger breweries have a much easier time consistently securing hops due to their large purchase volume and low diversity of beers. This leaves small craft breweries paying a premium for the same hop, if they can even get an order to begin with. Liquid Hops will be an indoor hydroponic hop farming facility focused on expanding the growing season for hops and helping local craft breweries and brewpubs. The company’s vision is to not only expand the versatility of eco-friendly farming using hydroponics, but to help New England brewing thrive.
Jonathan Carrigan, CEPS (Hometown: Hampton, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Daniel Winans
The Bogey Bag - 3rd Place
The goal of The Bogey Bag is to change the way golfers manage their anger while on the golf course. The Bogey Bag is a punching bag that attaches to any golf cart allowing players to take their anger out in a fun and healthy way without paying the price of equipment replacement or injuries. Whether it is a gift for a friend, or a product for yourself, The Bogey Bag is a surefire way to enjoy the game more.
Steven Schnobrich, PAUL (Hometown: Stratham, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Ian Grant
Ease - Runner Up
Ease is an online platform that finds international students rental housing and facilitates the process of renting on a turnkey basis. Our mission is to provide international students with seamless experiences in their rental process and enhance their educational decision on studying abroad in the US.
Win Phyu Phyu Aung, PAUL (Hometown: Durham, NH)
Chau Nguyen, PAUL (Hometown: Durham, NH)
Zhen Hui Jiang, PAUL (Hometown: Dover, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Lisa Keslar
Grocery Optimizer - Runner Up
Grocery Optimizer's mission is to save you time and money while ensuring that you have the proper amount of nutrition in your diet. Our web-based service generates shopping lists with affordable items that are guaranteed to fulfill your weekly nutritional requirements, making it easy to be sure that you're getting the most nutrition for your dollar.
Caleb Peffer, CEPS (Hometown: Durham, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Laura Deitze
Ping! - Runner Up
Ping! is an app that helps college students stay connected on the weekends. If by chance you find yourself in an unsafe, awkward or otherwise uncomfortable situation, Ping! will instantly send an alert to your group including location tracking and a predetermined message, all at the push of a button. Ping!'s mission is to bring America back to when the outside world was a place to be adventured, not feared.
RJ Harrington, PAUL (Hometown: Hingham, MA)
Dylan Wheeler, CEPS (Hometown: Bow, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Danielle Brick
TutorUp.AI Runner up
TutorUP is a web application that offers an online interactive classroom experience with an AI assistant available 24/7. The AI tutor enhances online learning by answering student questions during recorded video lectures, overcoming limitations of traditional video lectures. TutorUP aims to provide a more dynamic and engaging learning experience at a low cost for universities.
Oliver Willis, CEPS (Hometown: Groton, MA)
Paul Gesel, CEPS
Faculty Advisor: Ruml Wheeler
Aerial Perspectives, LLC
Illegal and unsafe drone usage has become a serious hazard in many communities. Aerial Perspectives, LLC offers a solution by utilizing modern unmanned aircraft technology to provide professional drone services at competitive prices. We also work directly with the public to promote the safe, legal, and effective use of drones through hands-on training. Common services include aerial photography and videography, mapping, residential thermal imaging, roof surveys, and pet search & rescue. All pilots are FAA Part 107 Commercially Certified..
Ryan Guerette, UNH, COLA (Stratham, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Granite State Systems
Granite State Systems leverages novel sensor technology and a proprietary algorithm to integrate machine learning into a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit to optimize energy consumption by pre-cooling or pre-heating a cold storage warehouse (CSW) during periods of lower electricity prices.
Brett Schultz, UNH, Paul College (Hometown: North Reading, MA)
Shea Garland, UNH, Paul College (Hometown: Lakeville, MA)
Rowan Baptista, UNH, (Hometown: Lakeville, MA)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Nuelife
100% natural skin serums crafted with sustainability in mind. Offering a clean, eco-friendly alternative to the synthetic ingredients commonly used by major brands, and meeting the growing consumer demand for natural, environmentally responsible skincare solutions.
Aiden Bondaz, UNH, CEPS (Hometown: Gilford, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Obscura AI
Obscura AI is a privacy tool that protects your digital fingerprint from being used against you. Traditional tools like VPNs and ad blockers try to hide or block your data, but modern tracking systems can still profile and exploit you based on digital fingerprint, which is made up of device details, behavior patterns, and data signals. Obscura does what other tools don't, it feeds tracking systems false but believable data and simulated behavior. This means tracking systems build a profile on a user who doesn't even exist, leaving your real digital identity protected.
Shaun Devan, UNH, CEPS (Hometown: Derry, NH)
Xander Cogan (Londonderry, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Marek Petrik
QuickQuery AI
QuickQuery AI provides AI-powered assistants for local government websites. Finding information on government sites is often like searching for a needle in a haystack our assistant solves that. From locating the right forms to creating citizen newsletters, and much more, it’s the ultimate citizen support tool.
Arthur Murphy, UNH, Paul College (Hometown: Deerfield, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Thrival
Thrival delivers targeted deep tissue therapy through adjustable tools built for every body and muscle group. Leading a fast-growing niche in the multibillion-dollar recovery market, it’s becoming the go-to solution for at-home recovery.
Dominic Rainville, UNH, Paul College (Hometown: Montreal, Canada)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Moderator(s):
Moderator: Peter Chusid
Time Keeper: Peter Chusid
JUDGES
Peter Paul '67, Owner & Chairman, Headlands Asset Management
Gareth Dickens '02, Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of ConvenientMD
Meg Rotondo '11G, Vice President, Product Operations at Digimarc
Maria Proulx, President, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Hampshire
Jeremy Hitchcock, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, New North Ventures
Jackie Russ, '88. CFO & COO Glance Networks.
Josh Cyr Named UNH Paul J. Holloway Entrepreneur of the Year

Josh Cyr '96, a dedicated mentor, innovator, and champion of New Hampshire's startup ecosystem, has been named the University of New Hampshire's Paul J. Holloway Entrepreneur of the Year.
Cyr was presented the award at this year's Paul J. Holloway Prize Competition, UNH's premier business plan competition. Cyr graduated from UNH with a degree in business administration from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics (now the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics).
Cyr's career spans the intersection of entrepreneurship, mentorship, startups, and emerging technology. Currently serving as the interim director of the Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center (ECenter) at UNH, he has become an invaluable connector for students, faculty, and staff, helping bridge ideas and opportunities through UNH Innovation's Venture Studio, the library, and entrepreneurial programs across campus.
In the 2024-2025 academic year alone, Cyr has held 139 formal one-on-one meetings with students about their ideas, alongside countless informal interactions, all dedicated to advancing students' entrepreneurial journeys.
Previously, Cyr created and ran a startup accelerator for the NH Tech Alliance (formerly Alpha Loft) in New Hampshire, where he supported hundreds of startup founders over the past decade. He developed and led all educational programming, helped founders refine their business fundamentals and fundraising pitches, and facilitated introductions that resulted in millions of dollars raised for area startups. His leadership also included organizing hundreds of events that fostered New Hampshire's innovation ecosystem.
Before his accelerator work, Cyr served as a CTO and software developer, co-founding a company that built commercial content management software used by Fortune 500 companies, universities, banks, municipalities, and small businesses.
Beyond his professional career, Cyr has been active in community service, having served as a city councilor for Portsmouth, NH, president of his children's elementary Parent Teacher Organization, and as a board member for numerous area non-profits. He has also been a member of Portsmouth's Economic Development Commission, Recreation Board, and Joint Budget Committee.
Cyr remains deeply engaged with emerging technologies, having focused considerable time in recent years on early-stage startups, cryptocurrency, and web3 technologies. He is a frequent presenter at events across New Hampshire, typically speaking on emerging technology and early-stage startups.
Among his distinctions, Cyr was named one of the "10 to Watch Under 40" by Catapult Seacoast and Seacoast Media Group. He has also testified at two U.S. congressional field hearings—one on net neutrality and another on the importance of broadband in rural areas.
Students and colleagues praise Cyr's impact and mentorship style. He encourages experimentation and views failure as part of the process—not something to fear—communicating that perspective with kindness, humility, and humor.
A Special Thank you to our Event Supporters
Paul and Anna Grace Holloway
Bud Albin Entrepreneurship Fund
Charles and Mirium Nelson Fund for Business Innovation
#HollowayPrize
The 2024 schedule will be updated in the coming months.
If you are unable to attend in person, you can watch the student pitches and ceremony on May 10 beginning at 1 p.m. via the Holloway live-stream.
*The championship round will be live-streamed and the link will be emailed to registrants prior to the event
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