Students representing the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab competed in the Appalachian Social Enterprise Summit, a business pitch competition hosted in collaboration with Coalfield Development and other regional partners to support Appalachian revitalization through new business.
Samantha Sliger, a May 2022 graduate from the Reed College of Media, and Jillian Blair, a student in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, competed against participants from Ohio University, Marshall University, the University of Virginia's College at Wise and Virginia Tech in the one-minute elevator pitch round.
The duo presented their business Blue & Gold Solutions, a social enterprise focused on revitalizing West Virginia by adding green roofs. Green roofs aid in stormwater management, energy efficiency and promotion of biodiversity while fostering community spaces.
WVU, Virginia Tech and Ohio University were voted by the audience members as the top three teams to move on to the finals.
At the end of the final three-minute pitch round, each team took home $2,000 to continue moving their Appalachian-based businesses forward.