“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.”