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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Charles Marsh, of Lewisville, and team are preparing to compete in the final round of this year’s Baker Business Bowl at the Citadel, after having cleared the semi-final.

That second round featured nine teams of would-be entrepreneurs, but now there are only five teams left standing.

In November, each of the nine teams were given five minutes to present their business ideas to a panel of business experts. After the teams pitched their ideas, the judges were given ten minutes to ask questions. Though the judges, competitors and a select few others were physically present — most of the audience watched the competition via Zoom.

The final business ideas include: designing and building an off-road Baja vehicle, a 3D printing filament recycler that can also convert used bottles into filament, a one-handed Xbox controller, a solar-powered dehumidifier, and an app that allows you to schedule hair stylists to visit you at home much like Uber Eats.

The Baker Business Bowl is a program aimed at helping budding entrepreneurs who have an idea for a new product or service, and the desire to turn that idea into a business. The competition is open to cadets, evening undergraduate students, and graduate students.

Contestants participate in teams and compete in three rounds. The final five teams are given the opportunity to attend a series of educational workshops on how to develop their full business plan.

The final round of the Baker Business Bowl VI will be in April 2021.

The teams that will compete in the final round of the Baker Business Bowl are:

Baja SAE

Developing and building a fully functioning, single-seat Baja prototype production vehicle.

• Zachary Adkins

• Stephen Channell

• Dusty Jones

• Jeffrey Kidner

• Marshall McKee

• Tyler Nathan

• Joseph Pham

• Stephen Sanada

• Inez Shapiro

• Kenneth Spurlock

• Sara Surrett

• John Stork

• Clifford Swindel

• Phillip Wellons

• Maxwell Whalen

Extrusionaire

A machine that takes 3D printed parts and scrap, melts them down and forms them back into filament; also offers the option to melt used plastic bottles into filaments.

• Benjamin Perry

• Luis Garcia

• Craig Niswender

• Tiernan VanDyke

• Mateo Gomez

Helping Hands Gaming

Designing a fully functional Xbox gaming controller, with unique designs for both left- and right-handed users.

• Jordan Cavender

• Daniel Esteban

• Jason Flowers

• Fuller Prickett

Solar Suck

A dehumidifier that operates entirely on solar power while also satisfiying size, weight, efficience and functionality preferences.

• Jack Zappendorf

• Charles Marsh

• Andrew Brabazon

• Joshua Valencia

• Cade Bennett

Zip Clips

Designing an app that would use a third party delivery model, like Uber Eats or Lyft, allowing customers to order an at-home haircut.

• Brandon MacDonald

• Thomas Kyte

The winning team will be awarded $10,000 to help them start their business, while the second-place team will receive $5,000. The prize money is made possible by The Citadel Class of 1989.