John Marshall Students Shine at Spring 2025 Pitch Competition

ROCHESTER, MN – On a lively spring day in Downtown Rochester, the Historic Chateau buzzed with excitement as John Marshall High School students showcased their entrepreneurial spirit at the Spring 2025 Student Business Pitch Competition, dubbed "The Pitch." Held on March 28, 2025, the event focused on transforming a vacant 9,300-square-foot space at the Maven property into a canvas for youthful innovation, with students pitching creative business ideas to a panel of community judges.

The competition, which kicked off two weeks prior, tasked groups of four or five students with reimagining the Maven—a 9,347 -square-foot vacant space on the main floor of this new apartment building. Located just blocks from the Mayo Clinic and surrounded by 155 apartments and bustling businesses like Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria, the property offered a prime downtown spot for the teens to dream big. With a rental rate of $25 per square foot, the students were challenged to devise viable business concepts that could thrive in Rochester’s vibrant core.

“This is a great location for a restaurant, entertainment—really all kinds of ideas,” said Mark Steege a local real estate broker, during a tour of the space, highlighting its potential. The students, many new to the world of real estate, embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, their fresh perspectives sparking a range of imaginative proposals. “It’s fun to see the excitement on the kids’ faces,” Steege added. “They’re young, and most don’t know much about real estate yet, but their creativity and the questions they ask make this so enjoyable.”

After weeks of brainstorming and preparation, the "game day" arrived. The Chateau Theater hosted the final presentations, where students pitched their ideas to a panel that included local mentors and judges like Shaun Palmer, Lisa Ross, and Tim Nela. “I got to sit down with most of these teams and give them advice,” Tim Nela noted. “Today, watching them present, you could see the nerves, the confidence—it was a blast to be part of.”

The pitches ranged from practical to visionary, all rooted in a common theme: Rochester needs more to do. One group proposed a pottery studio, "where creativity takes shape," offering classes to combat boredom with hands-on fun. Another pitched a culturally diverse dining experience called "World Eats," blending global flavors with a mini-museum featuring art and history from South America, Asia, the Caribbean, and Ethiopia. “What makes a delicious meal more rewarding than learning about the food you just ate?” the team asked, envisioning a space where diners could savor both cuisine and culture.

A third standout was "Putts and Pints," a golf-themed entertainment hub with a lively presentation—complete with matching hats—that promised to bring a fresh recreational vibe to the city. Other ideas included a beauty salon with a photo studio for teens and young adults, and a martial arts gym- with healthy smoothies.

The judges faced a tough decision, ultimately selecting three winners across distinct categories. "Artscape" a unique concept “where creativity takes shape” An Art Studio that also serves as a creative escape, took the prize for originality.

 "World Eats" won in the category of best space usage for its stellar use of the Maven’s space, A culturally diverse dining experience with a tag line “A culinary adventure-One bite at a time” Nela shared it looked so good he wanted to place an order before he left for the day. 

The overall champion, "Putts and Pints," clinched the top spot with their infectious energy and a concept deemed perfect for the city’s current vibe. “The energy when we announced the winners was electric,” Tim Nela shared, a proud John Marshall alum from the class of 2007. “These kids put in so much time, and it showed. Everyone brought something different to the table.” Each winning team received swag bags with gift cards, and the crowd erupted in applause for all participants.

The event, captured on YouTube, invited community feedback in the comments, encouraging residents to weigh in on what businesses they’d love to see at the Maven.You can make a comment in the comment section of the video. Organizers promised this wouldn’t be the last pitch competition, hinting at more opportunities for Rochester’s young innovators to shine.

As the Chateau Theater emptied out, the sentiment was unanimous: the future of Rochester’s downtown is bright! 

Click here to see the 2024 Pitch Link: https://youtu.be/sOB0b0OW4dc?si=Thk199ukNxvX8VLg