Local business leaders awarded almost $35,000 to high school and college students participating in Stark Tank. Students pitch their business ideas to a panel of "Sharks" like in the popular TV show "Shark Tank." This is the 3^rd year of the competition. We now have a total of eight sharks that help judge the competition. They provide each team with constructive feedback, and they provide the funds that are awarded. Ken Brott is the lead shark, and he partners with Dr. Dominic Bagnoli, Mark Fedor, Sue Grabowski, Bill Morgenstern, Todd Pugh, Charles Mullen, and Dick Maggiore to round out the team of sharks.

A total of 140 high school students entered the competition this year. Six teams were selected to take part in the established business finals on March 16. Innovistics from Hoover High School won the competition and secured a $1,500 prize. They developed a game to improve public speaking. Eight teams were selected to take part in the conceptual competition on March 17. The winner was Grayden Clark of East Canton. He developed an automated watering system for chickens. This project was called FoodMon. He was awarded $2,500.

A total of 40 college students representing Stark State, Kent State, Stark, Walsh, Mount Union, and the University of Akron entered the college level competition. Austin Brooks (Kent State) and his Automatic Drum Tuner business had the winning pitch and won $10,000. Camden Caizzo (Mount Union) pitched his Clean Catch business and won $7,500. Elia Meltzer pitched her Chartam LLC business and won $2,500. Hannah Peterson (Walsh) won $1,000 for her Design Herbs business pitch.

For me, this was an incredibly rewarding experience. This competition that the Sharks put on is amazing, not only for the community but the students as well. It encourages growth and innovation while providing us with an opportunity that we otherwise would not have been awarded. I spent the last few months working diligently in order to have a product and presentation that I was proud of, and I am so elated that my hard work paid off. Again, thank you to the Sharks for this opportunity, and I am incredibly excited about what the future brings.

– Kent State class of ’22, Austin Brooks, College 1st place winner

Meeting the "sharks" gave me the opportunity to network and start my business while still finishing up school. The ability to create a business plan is an important skill that I will use throughout my career. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity, and now I can accelerate the growth of my business.

– Mount Union class of ’22, Camden Caizzo, College 2nd place winner

The opportunity I received to compete in this year’s Stark Tank event was one of the scariest and most exciting things that I’ve done. The immediate pressure of speaking to successful business people about something you have spent so much time on can be very startling, and when you walk into the building and watch the people present, the pressure keeps building and building. Yet the process of speaking to the Sharks and explaining my project and the experience I gained from presenting my project at Stark Tank is second to none. It was the first assignment I received that truly felt like a college level assessment that prepared me for the future. Not only did they reward all of their hard-working contestants with money, they also provided me with helpful advice and connections that have already helped me further my career.

– East Canton Senior, Grayden Clark, High School Conceptual project winner