George Awad, founder of Aroi Mango LLC and graduate student in Lehigh's M.Eng. Technical Entrepreneurship program, scored big at StartUp Lehigh Valley, bringing in close to $25,000 to support his fledgling business in selling Thai-style mango sticky rice at farmer’s markets, festivals, and pop-up events across the Lehigh Valley.
"We're hoping to use it for marketing campaigns, for trademarks, as well as actually getting the right equipment to be able to build on that brand," Awad said. "I’m very thankful."
StartUp Lehigh Valley is an annual pitch competition that is organized by Lehigh University, designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. It brings together local startups, offering them a platform to showcase their ideas, products, and services to a panel of judges, including investors and industry leaders. StartUp Lehigh Valley plays a key role in supporting the region's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, encouraging collaboration and helping local businesses gain visibility. For more, visit sulv.lehigh.edu.