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The 91���� Startup Competition celebrated its 10th annual event in April. Hosted by the Office of Innovation in the Crowell School of Business, the competition allowed for 20 teams of student innovators to pitch ideas on products designed by them for a chance to win prize money toward furthering their expenditures.

“Biola is innovating! Our annual Startup Competition was truly inspiring – featuring faith-driven startups led by servant-hearted founders who are building businesses that expand the Kingdom of God,” said Dr. Silvia Mah, associate professor of entrepreneurship and innovation and director of the Office of Innovation. “From redemptive innovation to purpose-filled impact, this community of bold entrepreneurs is supported by mentors, investors and peers who believe in the power of business as a force for good.”

Not only were students given the opportunity to pitch their startup ideas to the judges panel, but they were encouraged by keynote speaker and alumnus Loren Franklin (’02), the CEO of the well-known coffee company Dutch Bros West Valley.

“As I reflected back on my journey through Biola, I was reminded of the importance of living out my faith in the marketplace,” said Franklin, who graduated with a business degree from Crowell School of Business. “There have been different seasons where I wasn’t sure how impactful that would be, but in leading young people and being able to model Christ’s love to them each and every day in the workplace is so impactful.”

The multilingual medication adherence app, MediScan, created by Kierstin Havens, a computer science major, at the School of Science, Technology, and Health, won the grand prize of $15,000. The app allows users to scan the barcode of any prescription or over-the-counter medication and receive dosage information, medication compatibility and more. A distinctive feature of the app is that it allows for advanced accessibility to healthcare through its multilingual personalized reminders to be programmed for users to be notified to take medication on time in many different languages.

Havens was inspired by witnessing bilingual people struggling to have their prescriptions filled due to a language barrier. MediScan was her way to take action to address these challenges faced by many people in America.

“One of the biggest discoveries was how deeply the issue of medication mismanagement affects not just individuals, but entire families — emotionally and financially,” said Havens. “I also learned how much opportunity there is to create real change through technology that is multilingual, intuitive, and culturally informed. Through feedback sessions with bilingual families, healthcare professionals and insurers, I’ve realized that MediScan isn’t just solving a translation problem — it’s addressing a larger issue of health equity.”

Havens’ prize money will go toward the two critical early-stage priorities, which are securing intellectual property protection for the core technology needed to the app and accelerating early stages of app development.

The multimedia production company, Remembrance, won the second-place prize of $6,000. The production company, created by Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts and Torrey Honors College students Andreas Johnson and Josh Yoder, is already securing contracts with Mortuaries and already generating revenue through its projects. It is dedicated to capturing the stories of people’s loved ones in their own words.

The team that created Eventure, an app created with campus engagement in mind, won third place, taking home $4,000. The app bridges digital discovery with real-world connections, enabling everything from business competitions to intimate Bible studies, with built-in QR check-ins that provide engagement analytics. It was dreamt up by students Joseph Hartono, a computer science major, Emma Lee, a business administration student in the Crowell School of Business and Crowell alumnus Amadeo Margo.

“Startup competitions create an experience which connects all innovation stakeholders, like students pitching, experienced entrepreneurs, impactful investors, generous alumni, and supportive faculty,” said Mah. “Following the Biola mission to ‘impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ,’ the Biola Startup Competition helps students conceptualize and launch businesses aimed at resolving the world's largest challenges through faith, skill and entrepreneurial spirit.”

Two mentors assisted each team in preparing their pitches and initiatives, one serving as a “subject matter expert” in the team’s industry and the second providing general support for business development needs. This year, 45 experienced industry mentors and Biola alumni volunteered their time to help students prepare for the competition. The judges included Franklin alongside Sylvia Kim, member of OSEA Angels and founder and CEO of Rebel for Good, Bernie Mapili, owner and CFO of Envy Labs, Mark Grunden, VP of Community & Church Partnerships at Faith Driven Investor and John Russel, an investor.

The Crowell School of Business prepares business leaders for kingdom influence. With the launch of the Adaptive MBA degree in Fall 2025, it continues to adapt to a fast-paced market landscape. Don’t stand still – apply to earn an Adaptive MBA today.

Written by Sarah Dougher, media relations specialist. For more information, email media.relations@biola.edu.