Student-run storage business wins $4,500 Kravis prize for aspiring entrepreneurs

Four Claremont Colleges students who started a business storing furniture for classmates over summer break have won top honors in the 21st annual Henry R. Kravis Concept Plan Competition.

The annual award, hosted by Claremont Graduate University’s Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management, recognizes Claremont College students or alumni who have the competitive nature, flair, and general aptitude required of an entrepreneur in today’s world.

More than $10,000 was awarded to this year’s winners and finalists.

The top prize of $4,500 goes to Claremont McKenna College students Brian Gose, Mark Gose, Myles MacDonald, and Harrison Zivot. The four started their company, Banana Storage, in 2011 with the aim of creating an affordable and hassle-free way for college students to store dorm room furniture over the summer. The service offers free pickup and delivery.

A second place prize of $2,500 was awarded to Adam Calvert of Keck Graduate Institute for his Rexgraft business plan, which proposes new technology for improving and quickening root canals.

Third place and a $1,500 payout went to Chris Weber of CGU’s Drucker School for his Career Nexus plan. Career Nexus is a website wherein established business professionals offer specific and concrete career advice for students.

Honorable mention prizes of $500 per team went to: Daniel Black of Claremont McKenna College for his Astra Motors business proposal; Drucker School students Garen Aliksanian, Ginny Jang, Nadia Hruska, and Ricardo Pierdant for their business GGNR; and Keck Graduate Institute’s Torsten Hahn, Bandish Momin, Vikram Khanna, and Mark Pollack for their I Catch proposal.

The awards are funded through an endowment created by Henry R. Kravis, a founding member of the Drucker School’s Board of Visitors.

Claremont Colleges professors, almuni, and prospective investors judged the contest.