Aiden Silverstein, Nikhil Gandhi, founders of Cracked Up, Soran Mechale, of goTeff and John D. (J.D.) Thomerson, of Pet Health Innovations pose with novelty checks at the Truist Pitch Deck.

Sports snack fueled by ancient grain wins Collegiate Great Brands grand prize 

Teff — an ancient grain that forms the foundation of Ethiopian cuisine — has fueled human achievement for at least 4,000 years. Now, University of Michigan MBA student Saron Mechale wants to turn it into a go-to fuel for sports performance. Her sports snack creation, goTeff, took home the $15,000 top prize at the University of Georgia Collegiate Great Brands Competition.

Winners of the 2024 Collegiate Great Brands pitch competition stand with their novelty prize checks with the contest's four judges behind them at Studio 225.

Breakfast of Champions

Chi-Chi founders Izzy Gorton and Chiara Munzi want you to try chickpeas for breakfast. Their grain-free, chickpea oatmeal brand, won them $15,000 at the 2024 Collegiate Great Brands Competition on March 27.