Student Success Stories
ECENTER STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
COMPETITION COACHING SUCCESS
2023
4 of 7 finalists in the Holloway Prize, including 1st & 2nd place winners
4 finalists in SVIC, including two 1st place winners, 3rd place winner
2022
4 of 6 finalists in Holloway Prize, including 2nd & 3rd place winners, and two runner-ups teams (including People's Choice)
national competitions
1st place for national e-Fest competition (a UNH first!)
2 semifinalist teams, Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs
5 of 9 finalists in SVIC:
- Best Well-Articulated Problem: Coweed
- Most Impact Potential & Audience Choice Award Second Place: Enersave
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Best First-Year Student Entry: Closed Loop
2021
3 of 6 finalists in Holloway Prize, including 1st , 2nd & 3rd place winners
national competitions
Finalists for national e-Fest competition
Track winner, Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs
5 of 9 finalists in SVIC:
- Best Well-Articulated Problem: 3Vize
- Most Original Innovation: Tidan
- Most Impact Potential and Best First-Year Student Entry: Grey-t Water
- Audience Choice Award First Place: Apropos Energy
2020
Clean sweep in Holloway Prize, including 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners, all three runners-up, and People's Choice Award
8 of 9 finalists in SVIC:
- Most Well-Articulated Problem, Most Financially Sustainable Solution, and 3rd Place Audience Choice: Scrapp
- Most Original Innovation: Mongo
- Most Impact Potential and 1st Place Audience Choice: Hydrophos
- Best Overall First-Year Student Submission: Roots
- 2nd Place Audience Choice Winner: MyGreenPlate
- Finalists: Promised Protection, SymbioExchange, MatterVerse, and Eizent Innovations
2019
2 of 6 finalists in Holloway Prize, including 1st & 3rd place winners and People's Choice winner
6 finalists in SVIC, including two 1st place winners, 2nd place & 3rd place winner
national competitions
2nd place ($40,000) winners at national e-Fest competition
Semi-finalists in Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs
2018
3 of 6 finalists in Holloway Prize, including 1st & 3rd place winners
6 finalists in SVIC, including two 1st place winners, 2nd place & 3rd place winner
national competitions
Two finalists for national e-Fest competition
ECenter Student Showcase
William and Joan Grant
Memorial Entrepreneurship Prize
2022-2023 Recipients
Derek Bobbitt
Derek Bobbitt has graduated with a degree in business administration, with a specialization in finance, at UNH. Throughout his time at the university, Derek's entrepreneurial drive was evident in his various experiences and involvements. He held the esteemed title of President of the UNH Entrepreneurship Club at the ECenter, acted as a Lead Mentor for the Shaw Innovation Program, and is a distinguished alumnus of the Idea & Innovation Society and Shaw Explorers Programs. In addition, Derek served as an Associate at the Rines Angel Investment Fund, an undergraduate-run angel investment fund, and as the Vice President of the UNH Entrepreneurship Club. Through his studies at the Peter T. Paul College of Business & Economics, Derek has gained expertise in data analytics, business development, market research, digital/crypto asset analysis, and public/private equities investments. Derek has received multiple accolades for his entrepreneurial ideas and has founded several successful businesses, each with over 2k users in more than 135+ countries.
Jason planT
Jason has shown his entrepreneurial spirit during his time at UNH in various ways. He served as Head Principal and Liasion at the Rines Angel Fund, Co-Founder & Co-President of Founders Club, Peer Mentor at the B Impact Clinic, Analyst at the Atkins Investment Group, and Lead Changemaker Coach at the Changemaker Fellowship. Furthermore, he has participated in several competitions such as Social Venture Innovation Challenge (SVIC), the Maurice Prize Competition, the Holloway Competition, the Passport Program, the National Draper Competition, the TCU Values and Ventures Competition, the Business Today Impact Challenge, the Carnegie Mellon University Venture Competition and e-Fest, which is the largest undergraduate entrepreneurship competition in the country.
2021-2022 Recipients
CALEB PEFFER
NATHANIEL HUNT
2020-2021 Recipients
Ryan Lefebvre
Ryan is the founder and CEO of Logsmarter, a nutrition tracking software that uses machine learning to help people reach their fitness goals. Ryan carefully built a team to push the company forward and has launched a beta version of his product with just under 2,000 users. Ryan is graduating from the UNH College of Engineering and Physical Sciences with a degree in computer science.
"It was a honor to receive an award that is in memory of Ian Grant's parents and it makes me proud to be representing the ECenter as one of the first two recipients," said Ryan.
Marisa Rafal
Marisa is the founder and president of the NH Toy Library Network, a toy lending library for NH children, including those in need of adapted toys. Marisa had the idea for NHTLN as an undergrad at CHHS and has since grown it to a bonafide LLC with two locations - Dover and Boscawen. Marisa is graduating from the Carsey School of Public Policy with her Master's in public policy (MPP).
Said Marisa, "Ian Grant has been such an amazing mentor, so to get an award in his parents’ name is an honor that’s hard to describe. Ultimately, I just want to say thank you so very much for all you’ve done to support my journey as an entrepreneur and helping me grow my company, the New Hampshire Toy Library Network!"
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