Three innovators earned investment capital for their startup concept pitches presented on May 3 during the 14th annual The PNW Big Sell pitch competition.
The PNW Big Sell is sponsored by Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) and PNW’s College of Business and Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center (CMEC).
Nabeel Rabie earned first place and $10,000 in seed funding for their pitch, Scent Seal. The concept involves a unique applicator intended to prevent perfume and body spray fragrances from quickly fading.
Allyson Straka earned second place and $3,000 for Frozen Garden. The company sources mostly locally grown fruits and vegetables from area farmers, then processes and freezes the produce in pouches for smoothies.
Paul Walczak received third place and $1,000 for Yuda, an invoicing and billing app for small service providers, such as landscapers and caterers, to share invoices directly from cell phones.
Nine finalists presented their pitches to a panel of three judges inside PNW’s CMEC building. The pitch competition was also streamed on JEDTV.
“The PNW Big Sell is consistently a unique opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to share their startup ideas while collaborating with students with PNW College of Business students to refine their concepts,” said Alexandra Moran, assistant professor of practice in Management. “We appreciate both the generous sponsorships and the enthusiasm from all involved to produce this year’s showcase of innovation and support the presenters’ business goals.”
An on-demand recording of the 2025 PNW Big Sell can be viewed on jedtv.com. For more information about The PNW Big Sell, visit pnw.edu/the-pnw-big-sell.
About Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana, near Chicago, PNW is recognized as the largest Hispanic-Serving Institution in Indiana, a First Scholars institution and an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development. For more information, visit pnw.edu.
