Photos by Ralph Freso / Slideshow / Livestream
As Kara Hairston wrapped up her Canyon Challenge pitch, the Grand Canyon University freshman had one plea for the three judges on Friday night at Sunset Auditorium.
“You have the opportunity to put the legend to rest and kill the sasquatch, once and for all, by voting for Hair Haven,” Hairston said.
The judges – Trinity Capital CEO Kyle Brown, WattLogic CEO Carl Kasalek and Phoenix Suns CFO Aaron Jerz – obliged and selected Hair Haven, a pad that helps prevent the clogging and clumping of women’s hair, as winner of the first-place prize of $5,000.
Hairston, a Scottsdale resident who was ready to enroll at Pepperdine or Santa Clara before visiting GCU on the advice of her mother, Tanaha, becomes the youngest student to win first place in the history of the event.
Youth was served at the competition, presented by the IDEA Club, which supports student entrepreneurship. The club hosts the “Shark Tank”-like event every semester, and prize money increased from $6,000 to $12,500.
Sophomore Ashton Hampshire pitched SafeStride, a safety boot device for firefighters. That product netted $5,500 in prize money – $3,000 for second place, $2,000 for the People’s Choice Award, and $500 as the recipient of the first Lux Innovation Award, presented by Lux Precision Manufacturing Founder and GCU alumnus Weston Smith, whose grandfather loaned him $500 to start his flourishing company.
Grant Havertine of SNAP’D Hangers, a device used to restock and organize hangers, earned the third-place prize of $2,000.
Brown said Hairston had a “great presentation” in announcing Hair Haven as the winner.
She expressed the problems of hair shedding and relegating women to putting their clumps on walls that formed a “shower sasquatch.”
Shower drains and wall mounts create sanitary issues, she said. Hair Haven is a spiked pad that allows one to swipe their shedded hair off their hand.
“Swipe, catch and toss,” said Hairston.
She said the pad could be placed on a shower wall, near a sink or styling station. She added that the product is reusable, aesthetic, hygienic, touch-free and effective. The pad, Hairston said, will alleviate arguments with spouses dealing with clogged shower drains and/or clumps of hair in showers.
The freshman, who is majoring in finance, said Hair Haven generated more than $1,000 in pre-orders in one week without the aid of marketing or an official launch.
Connor Vicary, acting director of Canyon Ventures, gave Kara’s mother a tour of GCU on the suggestion of Colangelo College of Business Dean John Kaites.
Tanaha Hairston immediately called her daughter and suggested she visit GCU.
"Once I did that tour with Connor, she sold me,” Kara Hairston said.
She joined the IDEA Club after attending classes but did not start working on Hair Haven until one month ago.
“It just came to mind,” Hairston said. “I was in the shower and thinking, ‘This is an issue.’"
She received direction from outgoing IDEA Club President Caleb McCandliss and gained momentum.
“I'm going to continue to just look to Connor and Caleb and the support that they've already given me, and to continue to look for God in just his direction because, most importantly, he's gotten me this far.
“I want to continue to ensure that I just follow his plan.”
Hampshire, the son of a fire chief in Montana, described his prize money as “mind blowing.”
“The hope eventually is that, at the end of the day, I just want to save lives,” Hampshire said.
The other finalists were Titus Grimsley of Kimbo Learning, a learning system for K-3 students, and Brady Newton of DormDrop, a food delivery service for GCU students.
Before the final pitches were delivered, Robert Vera received a standing ovation for his service as director of Canyon Ventures, which produced two businesses that struck deals with "Shark Tank" judges during his tenure.
“This has been the best six years of my life,” said Vera, who won the AZ Inno’s 2025 Blazer Award by the Phoenix Business Journal for entrepreneurial impact. “It’s been an amazing opportunity for me to be here.
“GCU has given me the opportunity to be significant in the lives of so many people. I’ve been able to serve and be part of your journey through Canyon Ventures, your entrepreneurship and ecosystem.”
IDEA Club also honored the following winners for their efforts in the Marketplace division: Isaiah Habate of IH Vintage (Legacy Award), Macie Evans of Sunni’s Coffee (Canyon Cub Award) and Kai Christy and Kabian Allen of Immortal XV (Rookies of the year).
According to the IDEA Club, its seven marketplaces, under director Andrew Bussman, generated $110,000 in revenue for student investors this fall. And a mentorship program, started by student Lily Courteau, the club's head of mentorship, resulted in more than half of the 100 mentees starting businesses.
Ian Miller will take over for McCandliss as president of IDEA Club for the spring semester, and Courteau will assume Sarah LeDrew’s duties as vice president.
GCU senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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