PIKEVILLE, KY — More than 50 students, entrepreneurs, and community leaders packed out FaithLife Market last night for Pizza & a Pitch, an evening dedicated to celebrating innovation, bold ideas, and the growing entrepreneurial spirit in Eastern Kentucky.
Check out Mounton Top News's coverage of the event.
The event brought together UPIKE students, local founders, advisory board members, and regional partners who share a common vision: building a thriving culture of entrepreneurship in Central Appalachia.
The program opened with five elevator-pitch competitors—two UPIKE students and three community entrepreneurs—who delivered fast-paced, high-energy pitches to a distinguished panel of judges:
- John Justice, CEDAR
- Jordan Gibson, President & CEO, Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
- Payton May, BitSource
Rhyker Airhart, a UPIKE Entrepreneurial Mindset student, captured 2nd place with his pitch for The Hillbilly Goats, a proposed summer collegiate baseball team that would create new opportunities for athletes, fans, and local businesses in Pikeville.
Showcasing UPIKE’s New Venture Creation Teams
Two student teams from UPIKE’s New Venture Creation course presented their developing business ventures, offering a glimpse into the real work happening inside the Coleman College of Business.
PitchCraft - Slide Deck
A baseball-centric coaching certification platform
PitchCraft aims to equip youth baseball coaches across the country with accessible, structured online training. The platform integrates coaching fundamentals, safety standards, and leadership development into a professional certification model that can scale nationally. As youth sports grow and expectations rise, PitchCraft is addressing the need for consistent, high-quality coaching resources in communities everywhere.
Team Members: Karter Anderson, Kameron Brodeur, Tyler Brook, and Kesean Waldon
Campus Thrift - Slide Deck
A student-to-student resale marketplace for college campuses
Campus Thrift tackles the rising financial burden many students face. Through a simple app-based marketplace, students can buy and sell clothing, textbooks, dorm essentials, electronics, and more directly with peers. The result: reduced waste, lower student costs, and a stronger sense of community built around shared resources and sustainable living.
Team Members: Najmir Bellegarde, Keynan Cutlip, Jack Dinapoli, and Emily Lindsey
Both teams presented clear value propositions, early product roadmaps, and strong problem-solution logic—earning meaningful insights and encouragement from judges and local industry leaders.
Community Connections Strengthen the Experience
Several members of the UPIKE Coleman College of Business Advisory Board attended and spent intentional time connecting with students and presenters:
- Rusty Justice, BitSource
- Dalton Stevens, Ryan Hall Y’all
- Jordan Gibson, Southeast Kentucky Chamber
- Kansas Justice, Pikeville Medical Center
Their presence underscored the unique advantage UPIKE students have—real access to founders, executives, and decision-makers who are actively shaping the region’s economic future.
The event also welcomed Spring 2025 graduate Ethan Garland, who pitched at last semester’s Demo Day and has since launched Status Light Systems in partnership with Dr. Kyle Bow. His progress serves as a real-world example of what can emerge from the very environment Pizza & a Pitch helps create.
A Growing Movement of Innovation in Pikeville
“This is an incredible opportunity in Pikeville to celebrate innovation, risk-taking, and a willingness to create new things in our region—many of which are solving large problems with markets at a national level. You can feel the momentum. Students are not just learning about entrepreneurship—they’re doing it.”” said Jared Arnett, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Pikeville.
A Multi-Partner Effort
Pizza & a Pitch was made possible through the collaboration of:
- SOAR Innovation
- UPIKE Coleman College of Business
- Start Something Entrepreneurship Club
- BitSource
- FaithLife Market
Together, these partners are building a regional ecosystem that supports emerging founders, connects students to leaders, and accelerates the creation of new ventures in Eastern Kentucky.
Get Involved
Those interested in participating in future pitch nights, mentoring students, or exploring partnership opportunities can contact:
Jared Arnett
Entrepreneur-in-Residence, University of Pikeville
📧 jaredarnett@upike.edu | 📱 606-424-2048
Start Something Club: https://upike.campusgroups.com/startsomething/home/