VentureWell E-Team MITO Material Solutions placed second at the prestigious Rice Business Plan Competition, an annual collegiate pitch competition hosted by Rice University. MITO’s product is an adhesive epoxy additive that allows manufacturers to double the durability or significantly decrease the weight of composite materials utilized in the aerospace, recreation, and automotive industries.
The Oklahoma State University student startup team includes MBA student Haley Kurtz, chief executive officer, and mechanical engineering technology student Kevin Keith, chief operating officer. The team received $50,000 in investment prizes for placing second. Keith placed fifth in the Mercury Fund Elevator Pitch Competition and received $500 in cash. Kurtz received a total of $40,000 in investment prizes for winning the Courageous Women Entrepreneur award, provided by nCourage Entrepreneurs Investment Group.