The Sharkfest 2026 Symposium
Eight JWU Online students passionately pitched their business ideas on March 10, 2026, at the annual JWU Sharkfest Symposium, which celebrates innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. Held at the Johnson & Wales Downcity campus in the John J. Bowen Center in Providence, RI, the Symposium was sponsored in association with the College of Hospitality & Business, The Friedman Center For Entrepreneurship & The Launch Pad Club.
While JWU on-ground students pitched in real time from booths in the Bowen Presentation room, JWU Online students’ pre-recorded presentations were shown on a monitor to staff, faculty, students and their friends and family attending the event.
Jeff Binczyk, Director of the Larry Friedman Entrepreneurship Center, known as The Launch Pad, explained, “These online students are at a distance from Providence and we’re trying to give them an opportunity and a forum to be able to present their ideas. Last year, our only online student drove from New Jersey to pitch in Providence. This year, for example, Star and Brianna — who both live in Texas — wanted to make the trip, but it didn’t work out logistically and time-wise.“
Binczyk noted, “This year, 19 JWU Online students applied and eight submitted their presentations for the 2026 Sharkfest competition. It’s a rigorous process. People have full lives and not all 19 applicants made it across the finish line to pitch. But the eight presentations that you’re going to see are amazing — and the students are eager to hear your feedback.”
Following the presentations, Michael O’Malley, Academic Program Director enthusiastically exclaimed, “Wow! I was blown away by the depth of passion, commitment and thoughtfulness on display at the JWU Online presentations. I was especially impressed by our students’ creative problem-solving. Each participant leveraged ingenuity and innovation and ultimately communicated a clear vision to address an opportunity in the marketplace. Each presenter’s plan also held promise to make the world a better place through a clear-eyed view of social, environmental and economic justice impacts.”
How Attendees Rated The Students’ Presentations
Binczyk directed attendees to posters on the wall from which they could scan a QR code with their phones and download a survey. He invited them to rate each student’s idea on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), according to the criteria in the survey.
1) Market feasibility (understands target customer, business is differentiated).
2) Viability of the business (solid financials, would you invest?).
3) Degree of social impact.
4) Passion for the idea (logical flow, presentation skills).
5) Overall impression (please add comments).
Congratulations To The Three JWU Online Sharkfest 2026 Finalists
Nicole Ferraro ’26, M.S. – Nutrition
Business Pitch: Total Treats Protein Cookie
Ferraro, a graduate student of nutrition and a personal trainer with a passion for fitness, searched for a great tasting high protein snack with low sugar and balanced macros (carbohydrates, fats and protein) to support her fitness goals.
“Like most people, I love a delicious dessert or snack, but don’t love all the sugar and additives,” Ferraro says. “Many of the products on the market contain the same harmful additives and macros as before but are just using the added protein to be perceived as healthy and beneficial. A competitor analysis of other established brands revealed that customer complaints included texture and artificial aftertaste or inclusion of troublesome ingredients.”
Determined to meet consumer need for a better protein snack, Ferraro developed her own cookie recipe. ”Total Treats will distinguish itself from other protein snacks by having less artificial taste, clean and transparent ingredients, better calories and macros. Fitness enthusiasts will love the clean ingredients.”
Based on her surveys to identify her ideal customer — young professional women on the go, who prioritize health and convenience — Ferraro plans to first market the cookies via pop ups at fitness-oriented locations such as gyms, health food stores or farmers markets. She explains, “People at these locations will be able to taste the cookie without online ordering hesitation.
“Total Treats will be marketed online with a strong social media presence, relying heavily on TikTok, where customers can purchase the product directly from marketing videos and influencers. Instagram will be key to building local community presence. My long-term goal is to expand into health food stores and convenience stores.”
Factoring in all of the expenses — especially as she moves production to a commercial kitchen — Ferraro is prepared for Total Treats to yield no profit the first year. “I believe as I build brand recognition, in years two and three, Total Treats will become profitable.”
As a finalist, Ferraro shares, “Knowing that other people see the value in my protein cookies — enough to invest in helping me launch my venture and be excited to try the cookies — inspires me to officially launch the business. I am excited to put the grant I receive to good use and make everyone’s expectations a reality! I appreciate the help from everyone involved in The Launch Pad and Sharkfest because it has given me a renewed surge of motivation.”
Direka Gordon ’26, B.S. – Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
Business Pitch: Hummingbird Roots & Recipes Academy
Chef Direka Gordon, founder of Hummingbird Written Recipes, understands the pain point many American families are experiencing today — the cost of food. “As a military spouse and mom, I know this because I’ve lived it,” she affirms.
Gordon’s research supports her personal experience. “American families are spending between four and $5,000 a year dining out. Groceries have risen more than 20% since 2020 but incomes have not. Families are spending more, feeling stretched and still not eating better.”
Gordon’s believes families are not unwilling to cook — but that they need to be taught systems. “Hummingbird teaches practical, repeatable kitchen systems, how to shop smarter, stretch ingredients and cook efficiently without adding extra time, so families can build meals that turn into traditions, while reducing food spending. We build skill and identity in the kitchen with hands-on instruction designed for busy and military families who want roots, not just recipes.”
Based on over 80 responses to two different surveys, Gordon characterizes her target audience as “wanting to stay on budget and not spend extra hours in the kitchen.” Through education Gordon aims to instill confidence in her clients to “create recipes her kids will remember and even pass down to their kids.”
Gordon has developed a lean model year — one that is structured to be steady and realistic. Strategically offering a subscription plan that combines in-home classes, group classes and birthday parties, Gordon can control the number of events while maintaining a high value per session. Gordon adds, “I can maintain quality, avoid early payroll strain and expand strategically, not reactively.
“Hummingbird exists because families deserve more than expensive convenience meals. They deserve confidence and culture, the kind that turns recipes into legacy. Because when families cook together, they don’t just save money — they build stability, identity and connection.”
As a finalist, Gordon says, “I’ve always believed in my idea, but like many entrepreneurs, I’ve also struggled with moments of imposter syndrome after facing so many setbacks over the years. Working with Dr. Jeff helped me find the confidence to fully stand behind my vision, and having people I’ve never even met see the value in it means the world to me.
“The grant funding is an incredible bonus, especially because I just landed a one-year contract as the sole bread maker for a local company, and a commercial stand mixer will not only help with that production but also support the pizza classes I teach.”
Starlisha Keith ’26, B.S. – Digital Marketing & Social Media
Business Pitch: “S.E.E.D.” Transforming Opportunity, One Skill at a Time”
Keith characterizes the mission of S.E.E.D as “meeting two of the biggest challenges in our communities today — food insecurity and workforce disconnection.”
Citing her research Keith explains, “8 million households are facing food insecurity since 2020. This number has increased by 29% since that year. At the same time, over 4 million young adults are disconnected from school or work.“
S.E.E.D. plans to serve all young adults, aged 16 through 24 — who are earning or have recently earned their high school diploma — by providing hands-on experience in the trades and a clear pathway into the workforce,” Keith explains. “Eight trainees per cycle will gain employable skills and certifications, while the fresh fruits and vegetables they grow inside the greenhouse will go back into the communities they come from. Families gain access to nutritious food, and the community gains a safe, productive space.”
Keith adds, “In the second phase, S.E.E.D. will produce revenue by hosting ticketed events like date nights in the garden, transforming our greenhouse into a five-course culinary experience designed by culinary students.”
Keith projects S.E.E.D. will break even in year one, achieve sustainability in year two and scalability in year three. “We’re growing more than food,” Keith asserts. “We’re growing stability, opportunity, dignity, and more importantly, we’re growing the future.”
Keith exclaims, “I’m so excited about the next steps in this venture. Being awarded this grant is incredibly meaningful because it validates the purpose behind S.E.E.D., creating opportunities for young adults to learn valuable trade skills while contributing to sustainability and community growth. This support shows that others believe in that vision, and it motivates me to keep building something that creates opportunity and plants the seeds for lasting change.”
The Five Additional Entrants
“Preparing for Sharkfest has been an incredibly meaningful experience for me. The process of developing and refining my pitch has pushed me to think more deeply about how an idea can evolve into something tangible and impactful. It has also been a reminder of how powerful it is to combine passion, research, and storytelling when presenting a business concept.” 
Carl E. Johnson ’26, B.S. – Fashion Merchandising & Retailing 
O’Malley declares, “While not everyone could be chosen as a finalist, in my eyes, they are all winners just by participating in the event.”
You can read the story about the business pitches by the five entrants on our Career Catalyst blog.
Varlene C. Atkinson ’29, Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) – Organization Development
Business Pitch: KDD Consulting Services, LLC – Empowering Excellence Together
Madison Drew ’28, B.S.B.A. – Business Administration
Business Pitch: The Oasis — Reclaiming Your Health With a Retreat Experience
Carl E. Johnson ’26, B.S. – Fashion Merchandising & Retailing
Business Pitch: Home Du’ Jour
Kimberlin Royster ’26, B.S. – Culinary Arts & Food Service Management
Business Pitch: Uncorked Wine Bar and Bistro
Briana Torres ’26, B.S. – Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
Business Pitch: Desserts by Bri
The Value Of Sharkfest
O’Malley explains, “Participating in a Shark Tank–style event helps students develop an entrepreneurial mindset by pushing them to think creatively, solve real problems and communicate their ideas clearly. As they research markets, build business models and pitch to judges, they gain practical experience with teamwork, financial literacy and persuasive communication. The process also builds confidence, resilience, and professionalism by showing students that their ideas can become real ventures and empowering them with skills that extend far beyond the competition.”
Binczyk comments, “I felt a pent-up demand for entrepreneurship at JWU. We just needed to put some structure in place in order to tap into it and energize it. It’s incredibly energizing for me to work with undergraduate students on the ground and with online students, who offer a unique perspective on their ideas and their business.
“Many online students have jobs, they have families and they’re going to school. Some have started school stopped and are starting up again. So, there’s a level of maturity, and their assertion that, ‘Maybe I’ve also gone through a bit of the school of hard knocks as I developed my idea.’”
O’Malley adds, “It takes a fair amount of bravery to present your ideas in this way, but in entrepreneurship, as in life, ‘Fortune favors the bold.’”
As he closed the online symposium, Binczyk posed a question to attendees: “Do you think that Sharkfest for online students works in this format?” Attendees vigorously nodded their heads, “Yes!”
Entrepreneurial Mentorship For All JWU Students
Whether pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, JWU students in all programs are eligible to receive coaching and support through The Launch Pad. JWU Online offers 100% Online flexible degree programs that allow you to attend school while working and meeting family needs. To start your entrepreneurial journey, complete the Request Info form, submit your free application, or email [email protected].