University of Arkansas Team Takes Top Prize in Wal-Mart Better Living Business Plan Challenge

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A plan to introduce sustainable recycling for municipalities and poultry farms has taken first place and $20,000 in the Wal-Mart Better Living Business Plan Challenge. The final rounds were held April 16 at the home office in Bentonville, Ark.

The competition was also hosted by the Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas.

A team of students from the Sam M. Walton College of Business and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas developed the winning plans for Ground Up Biosolutions. Students include three master’s candidates in business administration: Brandon Barr, Joshua McCullough amd Keith Solsvig; and Cesar Coto, a doctoral candidate in poultry science and master’s candidate in agribusiness. Carol Reeves, holder of the Cecil and Gwendolyn Cupp Applied Professorship in Entrepreneurship, was the faculty sponsor.

The Ground Up Biosolutions plan minimizes the pollution of watersheds and creates a low-cost, environmentally friendly fertilizer from farms’ and municipalities’ by-products.

The second place $10,000 prize went to the University of Virginia for its proposed business Clean India, a plan to provide water cleaning and recycling services for the textile industry in India. Teams from the University of Louisville and Northwestern University tied for third place. 

Reeves said, “We are extremely proud of our students as they had very tough competition. The Clean India team from Virginia has already competed in and won several major national competitions this year. In the semi-finals, our team beat a superb Moot Corp finalist from the University of Louisville as well as teams from New York University, Northwestern University, University of North Carolina, Claremont Graduate University and Presidio School of Management.”

Solsvig said, "This competition really demonstrated to me the intense level of commitment Wal-Mart has to helping people live better. Its passion to support sustainable initiatives is really contagious. The entire senior management team is dedicated to help the Wal-Mart customer live better.” 

McCullough said, "Our experience at Wal-Mart's competition has really validated our belief that there is an opportunity to provide our neighbors in northwest Arkansas with what they need: common sense solutions to eliminate the pollution of our watersheds."

Wal-Mart developed the Better Living Business Plan Challenge to encourage entrepreneurial expression and growth. Michele Halsell, director of the Applied Sustainability Center, said, “The focus of business today must take into account not only the profit potential of a business venture or new product, but also the effect on the environment and on people. The challenge provided students with a venue to develop confidence in presenting their ideas to world business leaders, to receive feedback and constructive coaching to be successful in selling their ideas, and to make seed money available to help young entrepreneurs make their ideas a reality.” 

Wal-Mart invited students from 32 leading universities to submit business plans on topics ranging from clean air, water and soil, to energy efficient and healthy products. Eight regional winners competed in the semifinal competitions in Bentonville on Thursday.

Reeves said, “We were very excited to be competing with teams from some of the top business schools in the U.S. Green technologies are assuming increasing importance in both Fortune 500 firms and with entrepreneurial start-ups receiving venture capital.” 

During the Better Living Business Plan Challenge, student teams presented their business plans to a panel of judges made up of executives from Wal-Mart and other leading companies and nongovernment organizations.