Students from six regional colleges and universities competed in the inaugural Lehigh Valley Collegiate Business Pitch Summit at Ben Franklin TechVentures on April 27.

ParaPer4mance, led by Kennith Keitt of Penn State Lehigh Valley, won an entrepreneurial pitch-off, and Loop, led by Kira Gobes and Kelsie Strobel of Lehigh University, was the second-place team.The other institutions included Alvernia University, Lafayette College, Lehigh Carbon Community College and Muhlenberg College.The students presented their ideas and strategic business plans to entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and other students. Regional companies also attended and sponsored the event and met with the students and audience to inform them about internship opportunities.Lehigh Carbon Community College's project was Shore Tie, an invisible tie bar alternative. Its thin product slides through the loop on the back of a necktie and attaches to the shirt buttons. With Shore Tie, customers will never have another crooked or stained tie again.