Gabelli School Students Compete in First-Ever PVH Ground Floor Challenge

Featured Events | Jan 27, 2020 | admin

On Tuesday, January 21st, Freshmen undergraduate Ground Floor students participated in the first-ever PVH Ground Floor Challenge. Six teams of finalists presented their business plan for solving one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The PVH Ground Floor challenge tasked students to present their business plans in front of an audience of some 650 fellow Ground Floor students and faculty members. The winning team, RAWBAZAAR, pitched a platform that allows consumers to find clothing brands that produce clothes responsibly, funded by a commission fee, and marketed to eco-conscious consumers. The team of first-year students Roberto De Obaldia, Elena DeVita, Ryan Garcia, Akira Komiya, Jiarui Li, and Samanta Muratovic received a $2,000 prize, courtesy of PVH Corp., plus a $500 donation to a charity of their choice.

The freshman Ground Floor course at the Gabelli School introduces students to all the major disciplines of business. It then challenges them to draw upon this knowledge in proposing a brand-new business venture.

The course gets students to think like entrepreneurs while working in small teams, developing their business writing and speaking skills, and becoming familiar with New York City through class assignments.

Other finalist business plans included proposals for companies and non-profit organizations aimed at promoting health and well-being, climate action, and measures to combat poverty.

View the slideshow below for more on RAWBAZAAR’s presentation.