International student’s winning pitch for errand-running business earns $10,000 at LU’s annual Spark Tank

Innovation filled the Towns Auditorium at Liberty University’s School of Business building on Friday, when students from various academic disciplines pitched their business and product ideas at the annual “Shark Tank”-inspired Spark Tank competition.

Seven students from an original pool of 55 applicants were selected to present their ideas before a panel of judges with $15,000 in funding on the line. Business administration & data analysis sophomore Shalom M. Kaseketi took home the grand prize of $10,000 for his company pitch, The Errand Co., a digital platform where customers can request multiple errands like picking up dry cleaning or grocery shopping. The plan also calls for implementing corporate subscription offerings for businesses and facilitating event contracts. The company would emphasize direct communication with customers and building relationships.

Rather than directing his focus on the American market — which Kaseketi said might provide a much higher opportunity for profit — he said he feels called to use The Errand Co. to model transformative servant leadership as a ministry to his countrymen.

“I am very passionate about Zambia and its people,” he said. “Simply put, The Errand Co. is hoping to create a structured system that raises the benchmark for how entrepreneurship should be done in the country so the people seeking a service don’t have to think three times if the company is unreliable, is inconsistent, or doesn’t have integrity. They can trust in the structure of well-put together companies. The Errand Co. is one of those but is also one that cares about the people being employed. It means a great deal for us because we get to create that environment.”

Kaseketi said the Spark Tank event both equips and empowers students. “It allows us to work on the God-given talents that we have and structure them in such a way that as we communicate (our proposal), we can get viable feedback on whether we are on the right path,” he said. “More than it just being a competition, it is an opportunity to be strengthened in how best we can run our businesses God has given us.”

Freshman James Valentine earned $5,000 for his winning idea, Mulch Bros, a company dedicated to helping young landscaping entrepreneurs run successful businesses by providing them with software, playbooks for starting a company, and licensing. Valentine plans to use his own experience running a landscaping company to help aspiring entrepreneurs do the same.

Other student pitches included a wait-time estimator, software to filter explicit music, a three-year Bible study program, a bed-and-breakfast and bakery hybrid, and a fitness glove engineered for fitness watches.

This year’s judge panel included three Liberty alumni: Mr. Pave Founder and CEO Tim Dantas (’07, ’10), Block Reign Inc. CEO Cathryn Bonar (’00), and corporate attorney and business owner Greg Petroff, Esq. (’91), who was named Liberty’s Alumnus of the Year. The event was organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship with hands-on support from students in Liberty’s Special Events Management class, taught by Assistant Professor Jessica Pantana and Associate Professor Dr. Laura Hatfield, chair of the Department of Hospitality & Sport Management.

Business Assistant Professor Kristin Boyce, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, said the event provides a fantastic opportunity for Liberty students in any field to further their entrepreneurial aspirations and gain valuable feedback from judges. The Center for Entrepreneurship exists to mentor students as they strive toward Kingdom-minded goals.

“Sometimes it just takes one person to believe in you and encourage you,” she said. “The fact we get to do that here at Liberty for these students who have Kingdom-minded businesses they are wanting to build has blessed me immensely.”

Center for Entrepreneurship Executive Director and School of Business Residential Chair Dr. John Frichtel said he has loved seeing Spark Tank grow over the years. He added that the event, held during Liberty’s College For a Weekend (CFAW), is an opportunity “to showcase just how talented and creative our students are.”

“It gives the visiting families a pulse and idea of who we are … especially with our faith and worldview, it telegraphs what we are about here: we are entrepreneurial innovators, and we’re here to do something special.”

“Being able to come together in a moment like this and in a space like this, it’s Kingdom work,” Frichtel added. “We are sharing the Gospel through our work, and it’s beautiful to see the ideas given shape in a way that we are going to go change the world.”

In addition to Spark Tank, the LU Business Accelerator program connects student entrepreneurs with a wide network of Christian investors, who can in turn provide more resources for their business ideas. This year’s Spark Tank finalists will present their pitches virtually in July to 100 potential investors.

“We want to flood the marketplace with Christians who are building Christ-centered businesses,” Boyce said. “We really feel the marketplace is going to be a great place for discipleship and reaching people through businesses established and rooted on the foundations we are encouraging them to build.”

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 at the School of Business building.