Three Bucks Small Businesses Awarded Funds In DelVal Competition

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Three small businesses in Bucks County were named winners in the 2021 Spark Bowl, a "Shark Tank" style competition put on by Delaware Valley University and the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, the college announced.

Five businesses pitched their ideas in Delaware Valley University's Life Sciences Building on Thursday. Undergraduate business students from DelVal worked with the finalists as business consultants, helping them prepare to make their pitches to the judges. The top business received $12,000 and the top student consultant team received $3,000. Prizes were also awarded for the second- and third-place teams in both categories.

First place winners Anthony Prato and Rachel Hodgins, owners of Xenoil, LLC, a U.S.0based manufacturing company reducing plastic waste by creating products with recycled plastics, said the business students they worked with were a pivotal part of their success in the competition.

“Spark Bowl was an amazing experience,” Prato said. “We’re happy to be part of entrepreneurship, especially in our local community.”

The 2021 Spark Bowl Winners :

Business Prizes

• $12,000, First Prize, Xenoil, LLC (Anthony Prato and Rachel Hodgins)
• $5,500, Second Prize, GrowFlux (Alexander Roscoe, Eric Eisele, Adi Rao, Schuyler Duffy)
• $2,000, Third Prize, Pippy Sips (Amberlee Venti and Joseph Venti)

Student Consultant Prizes

• $3,000, First Prize, Xenoil, LLC, Bridgette Schoultz and Javon Speid (Advisor Don Brown)
• $2,000, Second Prize, GrowFlux, Delaney Beaven, Mike Florig, Pat Lawler (Advisor Chris Wagner)
• $1,000, Third Prize, Pippy Sips, Danielle Pape, Mark Christman, and Jonathan St. Hilaire (Advisors Russ Weiss and Adam Reinert)

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