Patriot Pitch Competition

Senior Khaled Alkurd is speeding up instead of slowing down as he approaches graduation.

Two members of the Costello College of Business at George Mason University have been honored with the Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations. Selected in the staff category was Rebecca Howick, director of operations and engagement for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). In the student category, Iman Chaudhry, a sophomore studying management information systems, was recognized.

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, students, faculty, alumni, and other stakeholders from across the George Mason University community gathered to cheer on the final teams of entrepreneurs competing in this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition, including those featured in the competition’s newly introduced Regional Showcase.

Rayan Rahman, BS Management ’17, has achieved an impressive amount in a short period of time. Now a senior recruiter at Amazon, he has founded two companies—Changing Bangladesh Foundation and Airposted—the latter of which he sold during the COVID pandemic when it had reached a gross merchandise value of approximately one million dollars.

Zachary Suh, a marketing major in the Costello College of Business and member of the Honors College at George Mason University, founded HomePlate,a meal service for seniors, in his sophomore year.

While a student at Costello, Jheen Oh's passion for business blossomed. Coming from a health-conscious family, Oh, with the help of his father, launched Susosu Water, the only naturally sourced mineral water from a 600-foot underground source in South Korea, infused with extra hydrogen for a much healthier hydration.

This year’s inaugural session of Camp Costello gets underway Wednesday, August 20 and concludes Friday, August 22. Over 100 first-year business students have registered for this opportunity to connect with their peers, academic advising and career services resources within the college, and Costello faculty, staff, and alumni—all before the start of fall semester classes.

On April 10, eight final student and alumni teams—two from each track—pitched panels of entrepreneurs at 2025 Patriot Pitch competition, organized by the Costello College of Business.

George Mason University’s top entrepreneurs take the stage this Thursday, April 10, to make their final pitches in front of the community.

The Patriot Pitch Competition returns to George Mason’s Fairfax Campus on Thursday, April 10, with the opportunity for all current George Mason students and recent alumni, who have innovative business ideas or early-stage business ventures, to successfully launch their own businesses.