“Spark Tank was extraordinary. I watched other entrepreneurs pitch and found clarity I didn’t know I was looking for. The room gave us feedback from people who would actually use what we’re building. That pressure test was everything — iterate, find weaknesses, understand your strengths.

But here’s what really landed: the moment I said it out loud, my idea stopped being theoretical. When you keep an idea in your head, you don’t hear what needs to change. Spark Tank forced that conversation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​”

“Pitching at Spark Tank was equal parts nerve-wracking, fun, and deeply meaningful.

Brent and I were so honored to be invited into that space, especially at NUNM, and especially after being coached and supported by Dr. Trevor Cates and Dr. Amy Bader in advance.

And, having been a part of the world of entrepreneurship for quite some time, I know how much it can be a cutthroat and competitive environment. Spark Tank definitely felt different from the usual pitch environment.

It wasn’t a room built around ego or takedowns. It really was a smart tank, not a shark tank. A place where ideas could be taken seriously, held generously, and strengthened through collaborative feedback.

The judges were clearly chosen with care. Barclay Burns and Bill Kelly gave us feedback that was practical, clarifying, and expansive, and the presence of the student and faculty community made the room feel even more alive. We were so fortunate to also get time with the other guest judges, and have stacks of paper to read through and consider as we continue incubating, and growing, our idea.

For us, Spark Tank really was more than a pitch. It was a place to test language, feel the resonance of the idea in real time, and receive reflection from people who genuinely wanted to help it grow.

We left with stronger language, better questions, a more committed direction, meaningful connections, and a lot of gratitude.

It was a formative experience for both of us, as partners in business and in life.”

“An incredible experience. I was extremely impressed with the caliber of judges — the feedback was helpful, structured, and actionable.”

“The feedback from the judges was phenomenal. I really appreciated the mix of doctors, students, and entrepreneurs.”

“I loved hearing new ideas, being around influential people, and feeling inspired throughout the experience.”

“The judges were very insightful, encouraging, and helpful. It created a really supportive environment.”

“I enjoyed seeing how ideas were shaped in real time and how valuable the feedback was for turning concepts into something more concrete.”