Stumberg Venture Competition Names Five Finalists

For a decade, Trinity University has been fueling entrepreneurial aspirations through the Louis H. Stumberg Venture Competition—a unique pitch contest that matches worthy startups with seed resources, hands-on mentorship, and the chance to make their case to a panel of judges for a $25,000 grand prize.

Now in its 10th year, the Stumberg Competition has just completed its preliminary round of pitches and added five new finalists to its impressive roster of startups: Divvy, Colibrí, VirtU, DoorLink, and Madhouse Game Company.

These student-run ventures will receive $5,000 in seed money and advance to the Trinity Accelerator, a 10-week summer program that allows teams to build connections and develop their startups with guidance from former Stumberg finalists and local entrepreneurs. After the accelerator, the teams will return and compete in the final round in the fall for a chance to win $25,000.

These teams join a list of 58 startups that have made it through the seed round. All told, these ventures have been awarded a total of $574,000 (and counting) in total funding from the competition, which is generously supported by Herb Stumberg Jr. ’81.

Meet the teams below!

Divvy

Divvy, run by Khoi Tran ’26, Samuel Cohen ’24, and Aiden Seibel ‘25, is a multi-platform app that solves the pain of group expenses. Users can effortlessly split bills, transparently track payments, and securely send money with peer-to-peer transactions. Just scan a receipt and the app calculates who owes what–eliminating guesswork and awkward reminders.

“Acquiring seed funding was a major milestone for Divvy,” Cohen says. “It allows us to gain the valuable traction necessary to break into the world of ‘fintech.’ This is just the beginning for us, of course, so we are ready to tackle our biggest challenges yet across the next few months.

Colibrí 

Colibrí, run by Hoang (Milan) Anh Tran ’28, Quang Huy La ’26, and Uy Khiem (Levi) Le ’26, is a fashion assistant that simplifies the online shopping experience by providing personalized outfit recommendations, 3D virtual try-ons, and seamless shopping integration. The team’s goal is to eliminate the frustration of inconsistent sizing and overwhelming apparel options, while making online shopping effortless and confidence-boosting.

“We're definitely feeling a mix of emotions—more than excited, honestly!” Anh Tran says. "As we head into the accelerator, which is a big step, we’re aware of the challenges ahead. But we’re eager to learn, grow, and make the most of this opportunity.”

VirtU

VirtU, run by Bich-Ly Nguyen ’25 and Gabriela Nieraeth ’27, helps students make informed college decisions through a fun, swipe-based app inspired by modern dating apps. To the team, choosing a college is about more than just rankings and brochures — it’s about finding a campus culture where one truly fits in.

“I'm excited that we have the opportunity to grow VirtU - it's definitely a boost of confidence that the judges could see our financial viability,” Nguyen says. “ I think that the Stumberg Competition is a great opportunity for the team to exercise new skills from marketing to programming to financial analysis, and I'm excited to see our progress over the next several months.”

DoorLink

DoorLink, run by Nathaniel Troxel ’27 and Xadrian Huerta ’26, is a smart door hinge and lock combination designed for residential spaces, allowing full door control via smartphone.

“Right now, our team is looking forward to getting right back to work," Huerta says. “Securing the funding after the seed round will allow us to develop a physical prototype, which is something we’re excited about. I think the most exciting aspect about the Summer Accelerator is that all of our focus and energy will be put into our idea. I’m looking forward to seeing how our product will develop.”

Madhouse Game Company

Madhouse Game Company, run by Graycen Hall ’25 and Claire Carpenter ’25, aims to provide educational yet engaging science-themed games for curious and strategic people no matter their educational background. By showcasing a diverse range of real-world scientists, the game encourages players to see science as an open and inclusive field.

“We are super excited about this opportunity! I am very new to the world of entrepreneurship, so the accelerator… seems like a great balance between skill development and opportunity to work on your venture.” Hall says. “The majority of the seed funding will be going towards developing our game. We’re excited about launching our game on Kickstarter, doing more rounds of play-testing, and receiving feedback on how to keep improving.”