HawkTank 2026 Business Pitch Competition
Join us for HawkTank 2026!
The Center for Entrepreneurship at Monmouth University is excited to invite you to our 2026 business pitch competition featuring Monmouth student innovators and entrepreneurs.
7 teams compete for first prize
3 judges + (you) the crowd will be the fourth!
Free Entry.
🦅 Meet the Finalists
A Grain, founder Ashley Bento – Senior in Organizational Leadership building a flavor-forward yogurt bowl concept powered by bold, signature granolas.
LearnAI, co-founders Chris Buzaid, Danny Crawford, Kiumbura Githinji – Juniors and Senior in Computer Science, a high-growth learning platform redefining how students and professionals gain the skills to put AI to work in the real world.
Pedro's Pastelería, founder Diana Eleto – Senior in Management and Marketing building a diabetic-friendly Latino bakery reimagining culturally authentic desserts using low-glycemic ingredients so everyone can celebrate without compromise.
DeedDrive, co-founders Blake Marushak & Brandon Blythe – Seniors in Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management streamlining homebuying with a real estate transaction-tracking platform that centralizes every step of a deal from contract to closing, giving agents and clients the clarity and transparency they deserve.
Pop-u-list, founder Nicholas Carducci – Graduate student in Software Engineering building a civic technology platform that helps people understand exactly where they stand relative to the leaders who represent them, powered by AI-driven personal impact analysis and a visual civic compass that makes alignment legible without bias.
OriginPay, founder Viviana Ayuso – Senior in International Business building a direct-trade payment platform connecting consumers directly to the coffee growers behind every cup, ensuring fair, transparent compensation that transforms livelihoods and lifts farming communities.
Striper Log, founder Matthew Fries – Senior in Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management helping surfcasters fish smarter with a data-driven platform that logs trips, conditions, and outcomes to surface patterns over time, helping anglers maximize outcomes today while training a system that predicts fishing success over time.
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🚗 Directions & Parking
Below is the location of the parking lot. You should have no issues entering the parking lot and there are no fees to park.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q4BHgeN7BpHt1dWf7
Here's an annotation of where Bey Hall is located:
🚪 Entering Bey Hall
The arrow above give a pretty good direction on how to enter Bey Hall. After you enter the building, the Center for Entrepreneurship is located at the first door on your right.