Columbia Students Win $1,000 Pitching Business Ideas

Thirty students stood before a panel of judges Thursday with nothing but their ideas, their confidence, and a few minutes to convince the room they were onto something big.

Columbia College's 2026 Fish Tank Pitch Competition brought together middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students for a Shark Tank-style showdown that proved age doesn't limit ambition. For the first time ever, the competition expanded beyond college students to include younger entrepreneurs eager to test their wings.

Scott Zimmerman, director of the Steven and Barbara Fishman Center for Entrepreneurship, wanted this year's event to feel different. Gone was the simple folding table setup from previous competitions.

"We wanted to think of a way to represent all these really smart young people and their ideas," Zimmerman said. The stage was set for something special.

Ten middle school teams represented West, Lange, Smithton, John Warner, and Gentry schools. Seven high schoolers from Tolton Catholic, Hickman, Battle, and Rock Bridge pitched their visions. Thirteen college students from Columbia College and Moberly Area Community College rounded out the competition.

The middle schoolers brought surprising sophistication to their presentations. Zimmerman couldn't hide his amazement at what he witnessed.

"The intelligence and the poise... I can't imagine being in middle school and being as outgoing as they are, just really put together," he said. "They really put some good ideas together."

Team Spark, consisting of Arnav Edara, Charles Cruz, and Andrew Hinshaw, claimed the middle school division's $1,000 first prize. The three students also won the Audience Choice award, proving their idea resonated beyond the judges' table.

In the high school division, Ben Drury took home first place for BTN Insights, a platform designed to eliminate bias from sports statistics by focusing purely on hard data. The concept addresses a real problem in how we consume and interpret athletic performance.

Drury credited his broadcast teacher at the career center for sending him the application. He'd already been developing BTN Insights for about a year before the competition came along.

"This product was something that I had already started, and it had already been up and running for about a year," Drury said. "Wasn't really expecting to win, and it's a great honor. I'm just very grateful of the opportunity."

The Ripple Effect

Judge Mark Miles, president and CEO of Orscheln Management Co. and former school superintendent, saw something profound happening beyond the pitches and prizes. These students were getting encouragement from educators who believed in their potential enough to push them toward opportunities like this.

"I think as educators, we look to make a positive difference in the lives of children, and I can certainly tell the educators that inspire these students each and every day are doing a wonderful job," Miles said. "This was just an opportunity to give back and invest in the lives of students today and future leaders of tomorrow."

The college division's top honor went to Austin Jansen for Midwest Soil Solutions. Like Team Spark, Jansen also captured the Audience Choice prize, taking home double recognition for work that addresses real agricultural challenges.

What started as a modest college competition has transformed into a launchpad for young innovators across age groups. The expansion sends a clear message: entrepreneurship isn't just for adults with business degrees and startup capital.

These thirty students proved that big ideas can come from anywhere, whether you're navigating middle school hallways or college lecture halls.