Students gave their business ideas to local business leaders and investors in a competition to see which had the best idea and presentation on Wednesday.

The Sacramento Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs hosted the Elevator Pitch, the second event of the Global Entrepreneurship Week hosted by SACE.

The judges were Roger Akers of Akers Capital, Oleg Kaganovich of DFJ Frontier, Ray Nunez of American River Ventures and business professor Seung Bach.

Ten students pitched their business ideas to the judges.

Each student had three minutes to pitch his or her business plan and then took five minutes to answer any questions the judges had.

The first place winner was Britta Byer of Sequel Snowboards, a snowboard making company that manufactures snowboards using natural and organic products such as hemp instead of carbon fiber. Byer won $500.

“It’s really good to get some positive feedback after working so hard,” Byer said. “I’m very happy that I won. It can be discouraging with little time and high credit cards but it’s great to see that it is a good idea and that it’s not just in my head.”

Byer said she will spend her winnings on products for the business, paying down some of her credit cards and on snowboarding as that is her ultimate pleasure.

Second place went to Rekha Srivatsan, who won $250.

In third place was Alla Maknovskaya, who received $150.

Akers said he participated in the Elevator Pitch last year as well and said he noticed an improvement among the ideas the students were presenting.

“The presentations this time around were so much better and more focused,” Akers said. “Every one of the presenters had a valid business concept that they could develop and grow from.”

The global entrepreneurship week is being celebrated in about 80 countries with a few million participants, said SACE president Mark Hand.

“The event’s purpose is to inspire, connect, mentor and engage current and inspiring entrepreneurs,” Hand said.

Blazej Bruzda can be reached at [email protected].