Woltemade Big Problem Challenge

Ohio Wesleyan Students Secure Startup Funds in High-Stakes Pitch Competitions

DELAWARE, Ohio – At Ohio Wesleyan University, students aren’t just learning about entrepreneurship—they’re living it. On February 27, innovative student entrepreneurs took the stage to pitch their groundbreaking business ideas in two high-energy, “Shark Tank”-style competitions hosted by OWU’s Woltemade Center for Economics, Business, and Entrepreneurship. The stakes? Thousands of dollars in startup funding and a chance to turn their visions into reality.

Two standout students, Inesh Tickoo and Thomas Stathulis, emerged as the top winners, each earning $3,000 in funding to propel their entrepreneurial ventures forward. But they weren’t the only ones with big ideas. From AI-powered climate solutions to edible coffee capsules, the competitions showcased some of the brightest and most ambitious minds at OWU, all vying to make a difference in their industries—and the world.

Revolutionizing Agriculture: AirScrub Tackles Ammonia Pollution

For junior Inesh Tickoo of Delhi, India, entrepreneurship isn’t just about profit—it’s about solving global problems. Tickoo claimed victory in the Woltemade Big Problem Challenge, a competition focused on addressing environmental and social issues aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. His winning concept, AirScrub, proposes a cutting-edge “wet-scrubbing” technology designed to reduce ammonia emissions from large-scale livestock farms.

With ammonia pollution posing serious health and environmental risks, Tickoo’s solution could be a game-changer. AirScrub captures up to 85% of ammonia emissions, converting them into ammonium sulfate fertilizer—an innovative approach that not only reduces pollution but also creates a new revenue stream for farmers. Unlike existing industrial solutions, which are often energy-intensive and costly, AirScrub offers a practical, sustainable alternative for the agricultural sector.

“Most efforts to control ammonia emissions focus on industry rather than agriculture,” Tickoo explained. “AirScrub changes that, making it easier and more cost-effective for farms to adopt cleaner practices.”

Bringing Greek Flavors to Ohio: Cephalonian Creations Takes the Prize

Meanwhile, senior Thomas Stathulis of Westerville, Ohio, had a different kind of innovation in mind—one that appeals to the taste buds. Stathulis took home the grand prize in The Woltemade Center’s Pitch OWU competition, winning $3,000 to launch his food startup, Cephalonian Creations. Inspired by traditional Greek recipes, Stathulis and his father, Stacey, plan to introduce a line of healthy dips and spreads, including a signature feta spread and a Greek-inspired guacamole.

“This is a passion project for my dad and me,” said Stathulis, who also shares food-themed videos on TikTok. “We’re excited to bring these flavors to central Ohio.”

As part of his pitch, Stathulis provided samples of his creations to a panel of judges, including Glenn Entis, a senior director at Google DeepMind, Gary Campanelli, a leader in education, and Marcus Hazelwood, a sustainability expert. His compelling presentation—and delicious products—secured him the top spot in the competition.

More Big Ideas, More Big Winners

While Tickoo and Stathulis walked away with the top prizes, they weren’t the only students with bold ideas. The competitions also awarded funding to other promising ventures:

• $1,500 Award – Aethera AI: Juniors Aninditha Nair and Aryaka Tickoo pitched an AI-powered urban cooling system that uses satellite imagery and climate data to predict heat zones and optimize green space placement. Their goal? To help cities combat rising temperatures with smarter, more efficient climate planning.
• $750 Award – IPM+: Sophomore Aarav Singh presented a patented AI solution to cut energy consumption in data centers by 50%, extending hardware lifespan and reducing e-waste.
• Gift Card Award – FreshCaps: Junior Aanuoluwapo Fadairo introduced an eco-friendly alternative to traditional coffee pods—fully dissolvable capsules made from oats, cocoa, and vanilla, designed to reduce global plastic waste.

In the Pitch OWU competition, additional winners included:

• $1,500 Award – GeoKey: Junior Kaye’Ann Muetzel-Smith pitched a tracking system to help car dealerships manage vehicle keys efficiently.
• $750 Award – Lotus: Senior Tyler Duhl developed a smart device to help users break compulsive phone habits and reclaim their time.
• Gift Card Award – Spotless Stays: A team of seniors proposed a cleaning service to help rental property owners increase guest satisfaction and booking rates.

Beyond the Pitch: A Gateway to Bigger Opportunities

In addition to cash prizes, all participants earned free admission to Kickstart Ohio, the state’s largest entrepreneurship conference, featuring keynote speaker Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple. This exclusive opportunity will connect OWU students with top innovators, investors, and business leaders, helping them refine their ideas and gain valuable mentorship.

The Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at Ohio Wesleyan University, which supports student startups year-round, will continue to provide guidance and resources to help these young entrepreneurs turn their winning pitches into fully operational businesses.

A Legacy of Innovation at OWU

Ohio Wesleyan’s Woltemade Center has a long history of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, providing students with the skills, funding, and mentorship needed to succeed in business. With programs like the Big Problem Challengeand Pitch OWU, students are not only learning how to launch successful startups—they’re making a real impact in industries ranging from technology to sustainability to food innovation.

“Our goal is to give students a platform to turn their ideas into action,” said [Faculty Advisor’s Name]. “The creativity and drive we saw in this year’s competitions were truly inspiring. These students are the future of entrepreneurship, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.”

With groundbreaking ideas, real investment capital, and an ecosystem of support, OWU’s young entrepreneurs are proving that big change starts with bold thinking—and a great pitch.

The Woltemade Big Problem Challenge photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The Woltemade Big Problem Challenge photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Ohio Wesleyan junior Inesh Tickoo presents his idea to capture and transform unhealthy ammonia emissions from animal farms into ammonium sulfate fertilizer. Tickoo earned $3,000 for winning the Big Problem Challenge sponsored by OWU’s Woltemade Center for Economics, Business and Entrepreneurship photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The Woltemade Big Problem Challenge photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The Woltemade Big Problem Challenge photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Pitch OWU photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

From right, Glenn Entis, a 1976 OWU graduate, Marcus Hazelwood, and Gary Campanelli listen to presentations while judging the Big Problem Challenge and Pitch OWU entrepreneurship competitions photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Pitch OWU photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Pitch OWU photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

OWU senior Thomas Stathulis earns the top prize in The Woltemade Center’s Pitch OWU competition for Cephalonian Creations, a small business that will create and sell healthy dips and spreads inspired by Greek recipes photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Pitch OWU photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Pitch OWU photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Pitch OWU photographed Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Merrick Hall on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)