“Through the MVIC I’ve definitely grown to like startup culture more. Building something is definitely meaningful,” says Neil Pakhutko, a second-year at the University of Chicago passionate about business strategy.
The energy was high at the Booth School of Business on May 11, 2025, as nine finalist teams gathered to pitch their solutions at the inaugural Midway Ventures Ideathon Competition (MVIC). Over the previous three weeks, students from five universities across the Midwest — Indiana University (IU), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Knox College, UChicago, and Northwestern — tackled real-world challenges faced by two high-growth startups: Bear Maple Farms and The Dev Difference.
The MVIC was made possible by the support of five outstanding judges, each a veteran in their respective industries spanning CPG, cybersecurity, and venture capital:
Nicholas Giannuzzi (Giannuzzi Lewendon)
Brittany Wisniewski (Morningstar, University of Chicago Career Advancement)
Dariusz Semanyszyn (TikTok)
David Ryan (Cisco)
Neal Sarraf (Forum Ventures)
MVIC 2025 Winning Teams
🏆 Bear Maple Farms — Team Mengcon
Team members: Marshall Schneider, Neil Pakhutko, Angela Kwon
🏆 The Dev Difference — Team PWB
Team members: Pranav Bellannagari, Westye Hoegh, Baltazar Josue Boleto
🎖 Honorable Mention — Team GMI Growth Group
Team members: Gabriel Thomas, Imran Siddiqui
Student Takeaways from the MVIC
Throughout the competition, students developed real-world skills, expanded their networks, and gained the confidence to tackle future challenges — whether in startups or beyond. “The MVIC is for everyone — all college students,” says Hamza Munir, a first-year student at Knox College excited about launching his own startup.
Many students found the Q&A with judges particularly meaningful. “It’s great to have judges who really know their stuff and who are active in the field, like Nick. It’s cool to have them evaluate our presentation,” reflects Nolan Johnson, a first-year UChicago student who worked on Bear Maple Farms. Hamza Khurram, another first-year from Knox College who worked on The Dev Difference, noted that “the problems were particularly relevant for an AI-based company.”
Beyond competition, students got a taste of what it’s like to work at a startup: exploring niche markets, pivoting ideas, analyzing competitors, and learning the value of collaboration. “MVIC showed me how impactful every decision you make is at a startup,” shares Marshall Schneider, a first-year at UChicago.
Insights from the Judges
The awards ceremony brought together the full startup ecosystem — VCs, founders, accelerators, and passionate young innovators.
“Of the four [CPG] teams we saw, I was really impressed that they all had very different and innovative approaches… We are in an incredible launch moment in the Chicago ecosystem as a startup hub,” said Brittany Wisniewski, reflecting on the role of students in shaping Midwest venture culture.
For David Ryan, the competitors not only demonstrated strong dedication but also introduced him to fresh ways of problem solving. “It was a learning experience for promoting ideas and strategy in a different context”, he shared.
Nicholas Giannuzzi left students with a powerful message: “There has never been a more robust infrastructure to support founders and drive innovation.”
Midway and the future of MVIC - Sean Lim, Co-President
The Midway Ventures Ideathon Competition (MVIC) represents more than just a pitch competition – it’s our vision for what venture capital and student innovation should look like: interdisciplinary, accessible, and grounded in real-world impact. By connecting students with real startups and top-tier judges from firms like TikTok, Forum Ventures, Cisco, and Giannuzzi Lewendon, we’re not just simulating the startup world – we’re giving students a seat at the table.
This year’s MVIC proved what we’ve always believed: that talent exists far beyond coastal hubs, and that the Midwest is brimming with potential. From first-year students to graduating seniors, participants tackled complex challenges with analytical rigor, creativity, and a founder’s mindset.
As we look ahead, our goal is to scale Midway Ventures into a national platform – one that showcases the next generation of builders and thinkers. We’re building Midway Ventures into the premier undergraduate organization for startups and VC nationwide. MVIC is just the beginning. If you’re interested in partnering with us, reach out to midwayvc@gmail.com – we’ll always be there to support the builders of tomorrow.