Venture College Hosts Transformative Hexathon Business Case Competition, Awarding Over $10,000 in Prizes

East Texas A&M University’s Venture College hosted the 2024 Hexathon Business Case Competition, an intensive and transformative experience for over 30 students from East Texas A&M and Dallas College.

Held at the HEXA Innovation Center in Richardson, Texas, this competition empowered students to work directly with innovative startups, creating high-impact strategies that reflected both academic knowledge and real-world adaptability.

Participants spent two days collaborating with 10 HEXA startups, working side by side with entrepreneurs to develop high-impact, market-ready strategies. For the participants, this wasn't just a competition—it was a crash course in strategic thinking and teamwork under real-world pressure.

“The Hexathon reflects our college's mission to ‘transform lives' by equipping students with the skills and insights they need to make a lasting impact,” said Dr. Guclu Attinc, interim associate dean of the East Texas A&M College of Business and professor of Management. “Watching these students not only tackle business challenges but truly inspire their assigned startups exemplifies the transformative power of experiential learning.”

A highlight of the event included keynote speaker Iris Diaz, director of brand and marketing for FIFA World Cup 2026, who shared insights on resilience and strategic branding in today's global marketplace. Judges Jasper Cannon of Cannon Strategy Consulting, Angela Neal, president-elect of the DFW American Marketing Association, and Tatiana Chamorro, CMO of Toucan Cocktails, evaluated the students' presentations.

“The judges faced tough decisions in evaluating each team's work,” Cannon said. “We were particularly impressed by the depth of understanding the students demonstrated in such a short time, and each team's unique approach to their challenges.”

The event culminated with a high-energy pitch presentation where the team of ETAMU students Luis Arturo Acosta Perez, Fnu Ritika, John Larochelle and Ram Nikhil Suryadevara, representing Bearclaw Esports, captured both the $1,000 grand prize and the American Marketing Association Award for Marketing Excellence, adding $500 to their winnings.

“Winning the Hexathon was an incredible experience that challenged us to think strategically, act creatively and work together to build something impactful,” shared Suryadevara.

Carlos Carpizo, representing Kosmos Workforce, one of the startups housed at HEXA, highlighted the real-world impact of the event on students and startups alike, saying, “The collaboration with such a talented group exceeded my expectations. Their approach to research, supported by cutting-edge AI tools, delivered valuable and actionable insights. I am thankful to have worked alongside such energetic individuals and feel excited about the real-world experience they gained through this exercise. Looking forward to future collaborations.”

In recognition of the students’ hard work, Dean Scott Wheeler of the College of Business awarded each Dallas College participant a $500 scholarship, bringing the total prize pool to more than $10,000.

With participants describing the event as “transformative” and “invaluable,” the Hexathon exemplifies Venture College's commitment to preparing students for high-stakes careers in an ever-evolving market.

“This event wasn't just an exercise; it was a showcase of what our students are capable of when they're challenged to meet the demands of real businesses,” added Attinc. “Their creativity, dedication and professionalism left a lasting impact not only on the startups but on every individual in the room, demonstrating the profound ways in which our College of Business continues to transform lives.”