2018 Wake Forest University School of Business Retail & Health Innovation Challenge

The Challenge provides innovators a platform for revolutionary ideas.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Creative ideas presented at the Fifth Annual Retail & Health Innovation Challenge previewed how technology may help consumers track and manage their health in the future. The Challenge was hosted by Wake Forest University School of Business and its Center for Retail Innovation. CVS Health sponsored the competition.

Teams of student innovators pitched their ideas to a panel of industry judges at the event. The Challenge sought a broad range of ideas between the intersection of retail and health that could be implemented in the marketplace, and ultimately drive retail revenue. Each team competed for cash prizes totaling nearly $40,000.

“Competitions like this expose industry to how the emerging adult consumer sees their health being impacted and managed in the current environment,” said Matt DeSimone, senior director of member relations for the Association of National Advertisers, who served on the judges’ panel. “At the heart of them, the ideas were all digitally based. Some teams had specific ideas centered on digital engagement while others were taking concepts and activating them in a digital way to reach consumers.”

Here’s how the Challenge works: each team has two minutes to pitch their innovative idea to industry experts – no products, demonstrations, or materials allowed. At the end of the first round, five teams are selected as finalists. Each is invited to give the judges a 20-minute presentation to offer more information and answer questions.

Industry experts from the Association of National Advertisers, IBM Corporation, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and the Wake Forest University School of Business served as judges during the competition. The event delivers a real-to-life experience for participants who have to communicate their ideas and think on their feet.

“The Retail & Health Innovation Challenge offers a great educational experience, and it reflects the real-world in terms of influencing investors and companies to support an idea or at least be open to learning more about it. All the teams were very competitive in explaining their ideas and making their elevator pitches to the judges,” said Roger Beahm, WestRock executive director of the Center for Retail Innovation. “We were also very excited to see the level of Wake Forest University engagement this year with more teams participating than any previous time in the event’s history.”

The Wake Forest School of Business teams were made up of students from the Master of Arts in Management (MA) and Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) programs. Both are 10-month programs for students with less than two years of work experience.

Erin Garmon (MA ’18, MMS ’20) took home $10,000 for her idea. Garmon proposed a three-pronged service to help people with seasonal allergies treat their symptoms. A bundled package of over-the-counter medications proven to be both safe and effective; a retail pharmacy subscription service that delivers OTC medications to increase compliance; and access to expert help at walk-in clinics like the CVS Minute Clinic would provide a total solution.

“People’s health is something I am passionate about, so it was a great opportunity to talk about my ideas. It was very encouraging to find out that someone wants to hear about my ideas,” said Garmon. “I think that will serve me well whether in future patient interactions or interactions with health administration when I’m a PA.”

Garmon is enrolled in the Emerging Leaders Program, a 34-month sequential degree program where students first earn Master of Arts in Management from the School of Business and then earn an MMS in Physician Assistant Studies within the Wake Forest School of Medicine.

Master’s in Management student Maggie Whitley (MA ’18) proposed a digital app with a virtual wellness assistant named “Stevie” which earned her a check for $5,000.

Wake Forest MS in Business Analytics (MSBA) students Tanner Sowa and Jamey McDowell pitched their idea for an incentive program that rewards consumers with discounts on retail products when they maintain on-time prescription refills. “Refill Rollback” would also collect data to share with insurance provides to help lower insurance premiums, taking home $2,500.

Wake Forest students Samuel Mao (MSBA ’18) and Kimmy Zhang (MA ’18) proposed using data analytics to identify the potential misuse of prescription opioids and use the retail pharmacy channel to provide wellness education to at-risk individuals.

A team of MBA students from Duke University pitched a personal nutrition platform that aggregates personal health, lifestyle, and nutrition data to identify gaps in a person’s diet. The digital app would act as a personal shopper and recommend products such as specific foods or supplements to narrow the dietary gaps. They took home a check for $20,000.

The Retail & Health Innovation Challenge, and its predecessor, the Elevator Competition, has been run by students since it began 17 years ago. Student co-chairs handle all aspects of event planning and logistics for the annual competition. Organizing one of the biggest events hosted by the Wake Forest University Center for Retail Innovation gives students real-world experience and insights.

“A competition like this shows you what some of the big trends are right now, especially in the start-up space and with big data,” said Tyler Roberts (MA ’18), one of the student co-chairs. “When we were deciding the judging criteria for the Challenge, it tied directly back to my classes, especially with marketing. How do you sell it? It can’t just be a good idea; it has to have its marketing twist.”

The Challenge was held at Wake Forest University School of Business April 6-7, 2018. This is the fifth year that CVS Health has been the lead sponsor of the event.

Media Contact:  Stephanie Skordas, skordas@wfu.edu or 336.758.4098