Auburn Engineering students combine to win $30,000 in Tiger Cage Student Business Idea Competition final round

Two Auburn Engineering students were awarded a combined $30,000 startup capital in the Tiger Cage Student Business Idea Competition final round on Friday, March 28.

Liam Heary, a sophomore in computer science and software engineering, co-founded international snack distributor Planet of Snacks to win second place and $20,000, as decided by a team of industry professional judges.

Vincent Visser, a sophomore studying industrial and systems engineering, founded Polar Docks, a misting system designed to help keep docks cool so feet can beat the summer heat, and was given $10,000 for fourth place.

Presented by entrepreneurship incubator New Venture Accelerator and Harbert College of Business, Tiger Cage provides months of coaching and mentoring to help students develop business plans and pitch ideas before industry professional judges or potential investors.

“We entered the Tiger Cage this past fall with an idea and left with $20,000. You can't complain about that,” said Heary, who co-founded the startup with Harrison Ranier, a sophomore in apparel merchandising. “The progression we've made is incredible. It's called New Venture Accelerator for a reason — it has totally accelerated our venture.

“It’s not about winning the money. It's about making connections and what we've learned. Being able to put us on a stage where we can be asked hard questions requires us to ask hard questions of ourselves, and that's the hardest part about running a business.”

This year’s overall winner was Sophia Aulisio, a sophomore in the School of Accountancy. Aulisio’s startup, Protector Innovations, offers the Patella Protector, a pad designed to sit below the knee for improved mobility and protection. Aulisio, who netted $30,000 for first place, also received the $5,000 Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management special award.

Third place and $15,000 went to finance student Harrison Irby for collegiate clothing line Tradition Apparel.

Visser, who originally crafted the idea of cooling wooden docks while fishing on nearby Lake Martin, credited Tiger Cage with connecting him with valuable people and improving his presentation and communications skills.

“In my first presentation, I received four notes (improvement suggestions) from the judges, and in the second, I received only one,” he said. “That speaks volumes about how much better I've become. Tiger Cage also helped shap my character, and I am forever indebted to this competition.”

What’s next for Polar Docks? Equipment and growth.

“I'm going to invest in a trencher (a machine designed to dig long, narrow trenches, often used for installing specific utilities or devices) to develop my process and build some capital,” he said. “I'll also spend the rest on marketing to generate more interest, create jobs and grow revenue.”

With goodies boxes offered for 32 countries — 10 snack items per box — Ranier said he and Heary are working to “connect cultures through snacks.”

The plan: offer snacks to international students studying in the U.S. and offer international snack options to U.S. students who may be doing a study abroad program — allowing for a taste of the snacks in the countries they will be visiting.

“Imagine you're an American traveling overseas to study abroad and you can't find your favorite snacks from home,” Ranier said. “How would that make you feel? That’s the mission we’re trying to solve with international students.

“For abroad programs, we’re trying to integrate cultural familiarity amongst American students traveling abroad, while also creating a more hands on and memorable abroad onboarding meeting. Students will know their favorite snacks from the country they’re going to before they even step foot on the plane to get there.”

Heary said the team focuses on people who need international snacks first and are best suited to provide authentic feedback. They look forward to being an attractive source of worldwide snacks for internationals or customers curious about foods from other countries.

“Snacks might mean home to an international student, but to a traveler or a businessperson, it could be a gift to someone curious to explore,” he said. “We are exploring all sorts of avenues, and we're planning to build upon each one like a vortex.”

New Venture Accelerator Director Lou Bifano has helped administrate multiple Tiger Cage business idea growth opportunities for students and believes this year’s cohort was among the best.

“The Tiger Cage Student Business Idea Competition showcases some of the most innovative and promising business ideas from our talented students,” he said. “It is incredibly encouraging to see the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that flourishes at Auburn University from students across campus representing a variety of colleges. What’s especially encouraging is that many of these business ideas have great potential to thrive beyond Auburn, and I am confident that they will make significant impacts in their respective industries.”