Alex Kalina ’25 won first place for his startup platform LINK in the 10th annual UPitchNJ statewide entrepreneurial pitch competition held at Rutgers University on May 2. The competition was judged by a panel of executives from Nokia Bell Labs and featured pitches from student teams across 13 universities including NJIT, Princeton University, and Seton Hall University, among others.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Alex and his achievement at UPitchNJ. His platform LINK represents the kind of impact-driven innovation and entrepreneurship we champion at the Center for Entrepreneurship here at Monmouth,” said Alison Gilbert, director of the Center of Entrepreneurship. “Through our HawkTank business pitch competition, strategy coaching, and his participation in the NSF I-Corps program, we’ve watched Alex evolve from an ambitious and focused student with an idea to an inspiring emerging entrepreneur. We’re excited for Alex, and we’re excited to continue supporting the growing community of Monmouth students, alumni, and regional entrepreneurs making impact through innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Kalina, who graduated this spring with a bachelor’s in biology and molecular cell physiology, developed LINK to improve the efficiency of patient recruitment in clinical trials. The platform allows users seeking medical treatment to easily filter through available trials and find a compatible match.
UPitchNJ contestants were judged on the innovation and originality of their startup idea and the quality of their oral presentations. The judges prioritized creative and innovative thinking about markets, products and services, and evaluated students’ perceived ability to execute their idea and turn it into a viable, profitable business and/or venture with significant social value.
For his first place win, Kalina was awarded $2,000 to put toward his startup efforts.
UPitchNJ is a consortium representing entrepreneurship education center directors and entrepreneurship faculty at New Jersey’s four-year colleges and universities. UPitchNJ aim is to highlight the ingenuity and creativity of today’s college entrepreneurs, who are increasingly launching businesses from their dorm rooms. As entrepreneurship educators in New Jersey, UPitchNJ aims to provide entrepreneurship students with a networking forum with other students, mentors and potential investors.