F our Georgia College & State University students tied for first place in this year’s Global Scaling Challenge—winning $7,500.

The Global Scaling Challenge (GSC) provides teams and mentors with a chance to address intricate scaling requirements and obstacles encountered by businesses operating in diverse settings. This year, it was hosted by the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management.

Trey McCallum, Joseph “Joe” Dubsky, Grant Jones and Grayson Stoudenmire won a split of the $15,000 top prize, and each went home with $2,250 after winning $1,500 in the regional round of competition.

“All four of us researched industry information, put together pitch decks and presented them to the judges, so it was very much a collaborative effort,” Dubsky, junior finance and economics double-major, said. “We competed against schools from around the world like India, Europe and South America too. Our research experience in creating pitch decks helped our team take home the gold.”

Participants engaged with real firms, and student teams led by experts presented their solutions to firms and judges through a live, online format. The competition tasks teams and mentors with understanding the complex scaling needs of actual entrepreneurial firms and devising strategies for their immediate and future growth.

Three regional qualifier events were held from March 6 through 8. Georgia College participated in the Americas where they also won first. They then went to the finals on April 26-27 against the top two teams from other regions: Europe and Africa, Asia and Oceania. 

“This competition had the team present ideas to aerospace companies that are looking to scale up their businesses,” said Dr. Nicholas Creel, assistant professor of business law and team faculty mentor. "None of these four students are engineers or are majoring in the hard sciences. This speaks to how their liberal arts education has given them the innate flexibility to not just compete in a competition like this, but to excel in it.”

To top it off, the CEO of Space Kinetic, one of the companies they were pitching to in the competition, has asked the team members to sign NDAs and come on board to work for the company this summer.

“This is outstanding, for Dr. Creel and our students,” said Dr. Micheal Stratton, dean of the College of Business and Technology. “We applaud their success and appreciate their work to well-represent the College of Business and Technology and GCSU through this accomplishment.”

Learn more about the Innovate Pillar in our Imagine 2030 Strategic Plan