UT Dallas students win record prizes in “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition
By Web Staff
Click here for updates on this story
DALLAS, Texas (KTVT) — Students and alumni at UT Dallas stepped into a different kind of tank Monday night – a “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition where only the sharpest ideas survived.
The event, officially called the Draper Pitch Competition, brought together three finalist teams of undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni. Their concepts ranged from AI‑powered tools for lifeguards to a voice‑activated alert system.
A panel of expert judges heard each pitch before selecting the winners.
What the winners said Dean Ahmed, the undergraduate winner, said the pressure of the stage was real.
“Obviously, the nerves were there,” Ahmed said. “… I knew my competitors were just as good as me, so I just left it up to the odds, tried my best, and it panned out well.”
Sina Khorsandi, who won the alumni category, said the journey took an unexpected turn.
“I didn’t make it to the finals,” Khorsandi said. “I’m kind of glad I didn’t because then I wouldn’t be eligible for the check now… It’s been a long process and very exciting.”
Record prize money This year’s competition awarded its largest prize pool ever:
$50,000 for first place $30,000 for second $20,000 for third
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.