The B.E.T.A. Challenge Goes Online

Writer

Kait Smith Lanthier

Kait Smith Lanthier is the Director, Content Strategy at Babson College and the Managing Editor of Babson Thought & Action. Her writing has appeared in print and online in a variety of outlets including USA Today, Yahoo Shine, YourTango, CosmoGirl, and First for Women magazine. Smith earned her undergraduate degree in journalism and graduate degree in integrated marketing, both from Marist College.

| April 2, 2020

Listen

As the Babson campus moved online, the B.E.T.A. Challenge moved online with it.

Eighteen semifinalists across the alumni, graduate, and undergraduate categories pitched their ventures at the virtual B.E.T.A. Venture Expo on April 1. They polished their pitch for a virtual environment, tested their tech, and went live to compete for a spot in the finale. The finalists will pitch on April 16 for $75,000 in cash prizes, plus “services-in-kind” donations from corporate sponsors. Finalists will pitch in the B.E.T.A. finale on April 16.

Meet the B.E.T.A. Challenge finalists »

“Pitching online can be challenging, but our semifinalists delivered,” said Debi Kleiman, executive director of The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship. “We were really impressed with their ability to adapt to this new environment and showcase their startups. We are also grateful for the support of over 280 members of the Babson community who tuned in to cheer them on—you could feel the community spirit throughout the competition.”

Even from a distance, the Babson community came together to support this year’s semifinalists. See photos of the community tuning in below.

Posted in Community

Tagged Startups, Student Life

Latest Stories

A portrait shot of Jamie Siminoff ’99, H’21

The Biggest Miss in “Shark Tank” History: Ring Founder Jamie Siminoff ’99, H’21 Looks Back At a fireside chat, Jamie Siminoff ’99, H’21 spoke of his “Shark Tank” appearance, which didn’t end in a deal but gave his fledgling company critical exposure. Without it, he says, “Ring would not exist.”

By John Crawford

Senior Journalist

John Crawford

A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.

November 24, 2025

Tagged Alumni, Campus, Entrepreneurship, Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Entrepreneurship of All Kinds

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership

Real estate developer and babson professors discuss inclusive excellence in business.

Just Start: How to Turn Inclusive Excellence into Entrepreneurial Activity At Babson’s Inclusive Excellence Summit, real estate developer Richard Taylor demonstrates how inclusion becomes a competitive advantage while impacting the community.

By Hillary Chabot

Writer

Hillary Chabot

Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.

November 20, 2025

Tagged Alumni, Faculty, Campus, Student Life

Posted in Community