Biography
Bryan always had an entrepreneurial spirit but was just starting his corporate career after serving in the U.S. Army. He joined Goizueta to gain business experience and test his start-up idea: Chefter, on-demand connections with professional chefs.
Goizueta launched "Pitch the Professors," a competition in which students who are entrepreneurial-minded have an opportunity to present their business concepts and strategies to the school's expert faculty, in order to connect budding Emory entrepreneurs with Atlanta's investment community. Think TV's Shark Tank, but actionable and available only to Goizueta's bright and ambitious minds. Bryan knew this was his chance to shine.
"From the preparation through the actual pitch to Professor Charlie Goetz, the program taught me how to develop an idea into a viable business plan," says Bryan. "Prior to scheduling a pitch date, I compiled an executive summary detailing the idea and potential market opportunity. Charlie's questions helped me test the idea and better understand my unique challenges and opportunities."
Although every student received feedback and input from a panel of experts, only four pitches survived the intense scrutiny to take top honors, including Bryan's. "Chefter would not have come this far, this fast, without the 'Pitch the Professors' program," says Bryan. "Winning the competition gave us membership and space in the Goizueta suite of Atlanta Tech Village, where we were able to connect with like-minded individuals and share best practices."
Without a doubt, Goizueta gave Bryan the tools and experience he needed to put his entrepreneurship skills to the test, and he succeeded.