Students’ idea for AI customer service agent takes gold at annual Create Fest

Last week, Liberty University students from a variety of academic disciplines pitched business ideas at the annual Create Fest, a Shark Tank-style event where they competed for a share of $15,000 in grant money before a judge panel of local business professionals and a packed house of students and College For A Weekend (CFAW) guests.

The event, hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship under the School of Business and held in the Towns Auditorium on Friday night, provided students the chance to receive feedback and engage with the judges to perfect their ideas as they prepare to enter the marketplace.

Seniors Jack Skywalker, who is studying business and technology, and Mason Sonju, a finance student, took home gold in the event with their pitch Replio, a voice AI customer service agent designed to help businesses increase their clientele. Through automated responses to caller questions, the agent aims to ensure companies don’t miss calls from potential customers.

Skywalker said Create Fest is a “huge blessing” for students to finetune their business plans and network with other entrepreneurs. He also highlighted the spiritual impact of the event and the important role business plays in expanding the Kingdom of God.

“As Christians, we should all be Champions for Christ. Not just as pastors and missionaries but also as entrepreneurs,” he said. “Jesus fed the 5,000 and he met the physical needs, but he also met the spiritual needs at the same time. I’m thankful to Liberty for valuing that and giving us a platform to do that.”

Sonju likewise noted the incredible impact Create Fest and Liberty as a whole has on preparing students to enter the workforce.

“Liberty is unique in that professors have such a vested interest in the students, and they want to provide these sorts of opportunities,” he said. “There’s a lot of really fantastic people at Liberty, from the bottom all the way to President (Dondi E.) Costin. Together, they work to create an environment where we can flourish, learn, and grow in our faith as well as these business skill-building contacts.”

Business sophomore Marcus Popa finished runner-up with Truway, a recruiting company dedicated to helping businesses hire candidates based on character instead of solely merit. Digital marketing and advertising and entrepreneurship senior Jessica McGaha rounded out the top three with Wild Hare, a late-night bakery with a specialized gluten-free menu.

“(Create Fest) gives students a brilliant opportunity to showcase ideas, creativity, and potential,” said Professor John Frichtel, business administration residential chair and executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. “We are focused on possibility and thriving. This is ultimately lifegiving work, and it fuels what we are building at Liberty.”

“It is an honor to be part of these events and the students’ journeys as they launch ideas and turn them into businesses. It’s Kingdom impact,” he added.

In the weeks leading up to Create Fest, 32 entrepreneurial pitches entered the competition. From that pool of applicants, the top 20 entries were named semifinalists, with the top six competing as finalists before the judge panel.

This year’s judges included business and social entrepreneur Paul Tesi, president and CEO of both Impact Living Services and Asian Hope; U.S. Navy Lt. veteran Mary Ann Derr, founder and president of Synurgy, LLC; and technology executive Steve Ewald, a former president and general manager of an $800 million software company.

After a short time of deliberation, the judges awarded grants of $6,000 (first place), $5,000 (second), and $4,000 (third) to develop the projects for the marketplace.

“We are so honored that here at Liberty we get to help these students create and then go out and flood the marketplace with these Kingdom-building business opportunities,” said Associate Professor Kristin Boyce, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. “The future of discipleship is in the marketplace. When we can help them take their ideas and transform them into real-life businesses, services, and nonprofits, we feel grateful we can see that finished product.”

“(Create Fest) is growing each year, and we are so excited about that,” she added. “We hope to continue to provide tools, resources, and opportunities for students to come to us so we can guide them through that process to get to this point.”

In addition to formulating a well-rounded business proposition, contestants were also expected to integrate their faith into their work, demonstrating how the business or service would champion biblical values. Frichtel said the requirement helps ensure that faith serves as the foundation for everything the students do in life.

“Students will have different roles and different opportunities, but through it all, what matters is faith and a relationship with God and their families. The rest will follow,” he said.

Having Create Fest during CFAW also provides a great opportunity for Liberty to recruit future students who may one day themselves compete in the event.

“The fact we got to have a room full of CFAW guests and allow them to see firsthand, just a glimpse … that’s something that’s really special,” Boyce said, noting that she has met some students who enrolled at LU after attending Create Fest in past years.

The Center for Entrepreneurship exists to help Liberty students develop entrepreneurial skills, launch businesses based on biblical principles, and network with like-minded business owners for continual growth. The center hosts multiple events each school year and provides free workshops, services, and programs for students as it seeks to Train Champions for Christ in various spheres of influence.

Students interested in connecting with the center can email C4E@liberty.edu, follow the center on Instagram, or visit Room 1600 in the School of Business.