Guitar players leery of losing yet another pick through the instrument’s sound hole no longer need to fret thanks to Save A Pick Inc., winner of the 2023 InNOLEvation® Challenge.
Florida State University freshman Mackenzie Taylor, inventor and CEO of Save A Pick, nabbed the $10,000 first-place prize in the business model competition, which is hosted by the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.
InNOLEvation is open to students from all majors and asks students to identify problems and potential solutions with their product or service.
“We’re so very proud of all the students who applied for this competition and worked throughout the past year to achieve this milestone in their businesses.”
— Susan Fiorito, dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship
Save A Pick fits over the guitar sound hole and prevents wayward picks from sparking a retrieval effort that has vexed guitar players since the instrument’s invention. Taylor, a native of Tampa, said a key to the product is that it does not disrupt the guitar’s sound.
“We’re so very proud of all the students who applied for this competition and worked throughout the past year to achieve this milestone in their businesses,” said Susan Fiorito, dean of the Moran College.
In addition to developing a product or service, participants build a business model, and subject their idea to customer testing. The entire competition takes place over two semesters with students submitting parts of the business model canvas along the way.
The win was music to Taylor’s ears, who said she was thrilled and honored.
Other winners in this year’s challenge are:
Elevated Flavors – $4,000 Jim Moran Challenge Social Venture Award
Miss Posie Pockets – $4,000 Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award
Tallahassee Exchange – $4,000 DivvyUp Most Viable Award
Uni Cleaning Crew – $4,000 Growler Country Most Scalable Award
Gas Money, LLC – $4,000 Most Innovative Award
My Greek Legacy and Soyaline – $500 Finalists
For more information, visit Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.