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Congratulations to our 2024 Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge Winners!

Photos and story by Jorge Haddad

In the final round of the 2024 annual Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge, four teams of Loyola students faced off on Friday, April 19. These competitors presented their original, sustainable business ideas to a panel of judges, who chose which teams would take home cash prizes and earn additional rewards to help them develop their ideas into fully realized projects. We are happy to announce the three teams that won the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge this year.

First Place: Snailed It!

Image - Snailed It!

Kyle McCoy, Abbey Haynes, Morgan Pechenik, and Vivian Cossey

Cash Prize: $20,000
Members: Morgan Pechenik, Vivian Cossey, Kyle McCoy, and Abbey Haynes
School or program represented: School of Environmental Sustainability, Quinlan School of Business
Venture focus: Sustainable food production, circular economy, and alternative protein sources

Snailedit! Farms took home the top prize in the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge thanks to their pioneering approach to protein production. They impressed the judges with their plan to become the Midwest's first commercial snail farm, offering a nutritious and environmentally friendly alternative protein source. In an interview with Snailedit! Farms CEO Kyle McCoy, he revealed how he got the idea for the winning venture. McCoy credits a moment during a game of LIFE with friends when he drew a card prompting him to "start a snail farm." This seemingly funny and innocent prompt sparked a serious idea, leading to the development of an innovative business providing a sustainable protein source.

Second Place: Unicycle

Image - Unicycle

Sofia Carney, Ava Leathers, and Madeline Palmquist

Cash Prize: $15,000
Members: Sofia Carney, Ava Leathers, and Madeline Palmquist​
School or program represented: School of Environmental Sustainability
Venture focus: Sustainable transportation, shared economy, student well-being and resourcefulness 

UniCycle secured second place at the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge with its innovative approach to student mobility. This peer-to-peer bike-sharing program aims to help foster a more sustainable campus environment. UniCycle tackles student transportation needs affordably while empowering students to earn income, choose healthy, active transportation, and reduce the university's carbon footprint. In an interview with the members of Unicycle, they discussed the challenges that they encountered on their path to success. They highlighted the valuable guidance they received from mentors like Zack Waickman and Sarah Ku, who provided crucial insights into their venture's financial and insurance challenges.

Third Place: Oasis

Image - Oasis

Chase Amarosa, Natalie Bracamontes, James O'Reilly, and Emma Pierce

Cash Prize: $10,000
Members: Natalie Bracamontes, Emma Pierce, Chase Amarosa, and James O'Reilly
School or program represented: School of Environmental Sustainability, Quinlan School of Business
Venture focus: Sustainable Fitness, Eco-Conscious Community & Education

Oasis, a gym concept that merges fitness with sustainability, earned third place at the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge. This new venture empowers members to work on their personal well-being while also contributing to a healthier environment. Oasis minimizes its reliance on traditional energy sources by utilizing exercise equipment that captures and re-uses the energy members generate during workouts. This unique approach, combined with an innovative mobile app for tracking progress and a commitment to renewable energy sources, has the potential to make Oasis a frontrunner in the emerging green fitness movement. In an interview with the members of the team, they shared their post-competition plans, which center around conducting in-depth market research. This research will be crucial in setting specific and achievable goals to transform Oasis from a winning idea into a thriving, sustainable gym.