Have you ever wondered what it would be like to pitch your business idea to a panel of judges? Mid-State Technical College students are finding out first hand in a series of local and regional idea pitch contests. Tia Bertz, Entrepreneur graduate, and Sawyer Nelsen, Digital Marketing student, have been making waves with their creative concepts and presentations. 

The Big Pitch

Sawyer and Tia represented Mid-State at the NEW Ideas Pitch Challenge on May 1, 2025, at Nicolet College in Rhinelander. The regional competition is designed to showcase student talent and entrepreneurial spirit and featured 11 student entrepreneurs from six Wisconsin Technical Colleges.

Presenters had four minutes to pitch and four minutes to answer questions from the judges. 

“I was mostly super pumped,” says Tia. “I love putting the pitch deck together and giving the pitch itself. My favorite part is getting in front of the audience.”

Tia pitched her idea for Starlight Adventure Park, an immersive indoor entertainment center that combines interactive experiences with themed storytelling to create unforgettable adventures for families in central Wisconsin.

Sawyer earned second place overall and $500 with her pitch of Cogniscent, an AI-powered scent device that personalizes home fragrance based on user preferences and mood. 

“I came in with a lot of confidence and not as many nerves as I expected,” says Sawyer, who credits coaching from Business Management Instructor Morgan “Mo” Vanderhei, for her success at the competition.

“We are incredibly proud of Tia and Sawyer,” says Mo. “They embraced the entrepreneurial process from idea to pitch, and their confidence, creativity, and professionalism truly stood out.”

Where it Started—Mid-State’s “The First Pitch” 

Before they were selected to represent Mid-State at the regional competition, Tia and Sawyer participated in Mid-State’s The First Pitch competition held each fall and spring. At The First Pitch, competitors had one minute and one slide to present their idea in front of local business professionals and a live audience of students, staff, and community members. Tia and Sawyer were voted in the top five presenters and each received $100.

Everyone who competed at Mid-State’s The First Pitch contest was given an opportunity to interview for a chance to attend the regional competition. A group of College faculty and leadership, including Mo, then decided on one representative from the fall pitch competition and one from the spring competition. 

“It was a huge honor to be selected to compete at the NEW Ideas Pitch Challenge,” says Tia.

“Mo reached out and encouraged me to continue to the regional competition,” says Sawyer. After the First Pitch, Sawyer met with Mo weekly to hone her pitch. “Mo helped me make my pitch more engaging and always knew the exact right words to say,” says Sawyer.

The Pitch Continues

What’s next for Tia and Sawyer? Both plan to continue their entrepreneurial adventures.

Tia graduated from the Entrepreneur program this spring and has created six large-scale business ideas, all in different industries. She’ll be creating business plans for all of her ideas. Whether she establishes the businesses herself or sells them, she’s excited to continue networking, researching, and imagining.

Sawyer plans to graduate from the Digital Marketing program in the spring of 2026. While finishing her degree, she’s teaming up with her partner, a software engineer, to bring her idea to life.

“Without inspiration of judges, Mo, and the other students at competition, I wouldn’t have considered moving forward with Cogniscent,” says Sawyer.

Events like The First Pitch and the NEW Ideas Pitch Challenge do more than showcase student ideas—they help aspiring entrepreneurs build skills, gain feedback, and connect with others chasing big dreams.

Stay tuned for upcoming events and contests at mstc.edu/events.