Student Entrepreneur John Creveling Takes Grand Prize in 2026 Rhodes College Venture Challenge

John Creveling dressed in a suit and tie, holding a microphone

John Creveling, a junior business major from Austin, TX, presented the winning pitch at the third annual Rhodes College Venture Challenge held April 30 on campus. He gained the $10,000 Grand Prize to help launch OptimSolutions, AI-powered lead generation and automation for home service businesses.

The Rhodes College Venture Challenge, a dynamic business pitch competition designed to empower aspiring student entrepreneurs, is a culmination of entrepreneurship coursework, workshops, and coaching.

“The annual event showcases the entrepreneurial talent, creativity, and ambition of Rhodes students. It also reflects the college’s commitment to experiential learning, innovation, and student venture development,” said Eric Mathews, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Rhodes.