The fall 2025 SEC Student Pitch Competition brought together student entrepreneurs from all 16 Southeastern Conference universities at Vanderbilt University, offering a stage for innovative business ideas and the next generation of startup founders.

Representing the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was Gus Alvarez-Suchini (UT M.S., 2021) a student in the UT College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences’ Learning, Design and Technology Ph.D. program.

Alvarez-Suchini is the founder and CEO of DataRook, a sports technology company using advanced analytics to optimize athletic performance. He was selected by the Haslam College of Business’ Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to compete in the event.

According to Breanna Hale, executive director of the Anderson Center, Alvarez-Suchini represented both UT and Knoxville well.

“Watching Gus take the stage to represent UT and his company, DataRook, was a proud moment,” said Hale. “His journey reflects the strength of Knoxville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the mentors, partners and peers who have rallied behind him. Gus is already building a profitable, impactful company, and this is just the start of what he’ll achieve.”

Reflecting on the experience, Alvarez-Suchini said representing UT was a highlight of his entrepreneurial journey.

“Taking part in the SEC Student Pitch Competition was an incredible experience, and to represent UT on the 10th anniversary of the competition was a particularly special honor,” he said. “What stood out to me most was the support from the Anderson Center. They provided me with confidence and belief ahead of every pitch and helped me refine my delivery. I have no doubt that what the judges saw was the best pitch I had ever given about DataRook.”

While DataRook did not advance to the final round, Alvarez-Suchini emphasized the value of connecting with other student entrepreneurs from across the SEC.

“Of course, we were disappointed not to make the final, but it’s a testament to the other incredible student founders,” he said. “Congratulations to Altaris MedTech and the University of Arkansas for being crowned SEC Champions for their groundbreaking strep test. It was also great to see that the other two finalists, Protector Innovations and Automatic AI, were in the sports space, just like DataRook. It must mean we’re on the right track!”

Alvarez-Suchini continues to grow DataRook with the support of the Anderson Center’s mentorship programs and startup resources.

About the SEC Student Pitch Competition

The SEC Student Pitch Competition, hosted annually by the Southeastern Conference, provides a showcase for student entrepreneurs across the league. Each SEC university selects one student-led startup to compete, with participants pitching their business ideas to a panel of judges for feedback, recognition, and potential funding opportunities.

Other 2025 SEC Student Pitch Competition participants included:

• Altaris MedTech from the University of Arkansas 
• Boost, Maxwell McNally and Anthony Sherman, University of Alabama
• Carolina Lights, Benjamin Csicsila, University of South Carolina
• ClotShield Biomedical, James Bowman and Jack Wilton, University of Oklahoma
• Golden Homeshare, Malaki Nathan and Doubet Smith, University of Missouri
• HeyEVA, Shubh Bhakta, Texas A&M University
• Horus Health, Ishan Mahajan, Vanderbilt University
• Ignition Packaging, Abdurrahman Bejjaj, University of Florida
• Pinpoint Irrigation, Stephen Herrera, The University of Texas at Austin
• Prlz; Avery Nelson, Venkatesh Suryadevara and Eli Gersony, ; University of Kentucky
• Ready Set Prep, Noah Carpenter and Grant Houston, Mississippi State University
• Simplify Your Semester, Maahir Murad and Huzaifah Malik, University of Georgia

About the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation 

The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, housed in Haslam, is the front door to entrepreneurship at UT, connecting entrepreneurs and innovators at every stage with the resources, networks and expertise needed to solve real challenges. By cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset across campus, connecting entrepreneurs with resources and mentorship they need to grow and collaborating with the UT and regional ecosystem, the ACEI is developing an entrepreneurial culture where Volunteers are empowered to identify unmet needs and take bold action to create value through new ventures.

Author:

Taylor McElroy Bennett, administrative specialist, tmcelro1@utk.edu