CWU Business student chosen as national finalist for innovation competition at MIT

Morgan Holman signed up for the annual Red Bull Basement competition on a whim, after a CWU Women in Business Club guest speaker presented the group with the opportunity.

The international innovation competition, centered around disruptive business ideas powered by emerging AI technology, asks participants to submit their ideas to be evaluated by a panel of judges, which then selects the most promising ones for a national final. This year’s culminating event was held last month at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Media Labs.

Holman, a sophomore majoring in market management and business administration, was among the top 10 nationwide to be selected for the November 15-17 event in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Initially nervous about her opportunity to shine on the national stage, Holman quickly found both community and support among her fellow competitors.

“It really didn’t feel like a competition,” she said. “When I got there, everyone was nervous, and everyone just wanted to see their ideas take off, so it was really a sense of community and helping each other out.”

Holman’s business idea revolves around an AI assistant specifically designed for the needs of college students, helping them with time management, organization, study habits, and other skills that are often developed over time.

Named “Cassie” after a close, supportive friend of hers, Holman’s software would automate many of the complicated aspects about college life and streamline the habits necessary to successfully pursue a degree. She was able to receive feedback, suggestions, and encouragement from her competitors as part of the national final, which became more of a meeting of minds than a heated competition.

“We were all wishing each other luck and giving each other tips for presenting, and just helping each other get the most out of the experience,” Holman said. “I’m really happy for everyone who was able to go, and I think every single idea presented was truly innovative and potentially life-changing to people around the world.”

While Holman’s project didn’t win the top prize in the Red Bull Basement competition, she plans to continue developing the concept with help from her new connections, as well as the $150,000 in Microsoft Azure credits awarded to each of the finalists that can be used through the cloud-based software development platform.

She came away from the experience with a newfound appreciation for the value of networking in business development, and confirmation that “Cassie” could very well change lives one day.