The University of New Mexico (NMSU) has announced Adriana Garcia, a graduate student entrepreneur from the NMSU College of Business, as one of the winners of the 2023 Aggie Shark Tank. She secured first place in the "Shark Favorite" category, earning a $5,000 grand prize while presenting her concept for BAClog, a data-driven consumer insights platform for alcohol sales.
Garcia is currently pursuing her MBA with a focus on finance at NMSU. She developed BAClog, a platform inspired by her love of baseball. This platform offers real-time insights into product consumption to manage risks and boost alcohol sales at large-scale venues. Garcia and other College of Business students, including alum Tony Rico, were recognized at the Aggie Shark Tank event in October. The event was sponsored by the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at NMSU's Arrowhead Center, according to an NMSU press release.
According to the same press release by NMSU, Garcia said: "My father became a die-hard Red Sox fan while attending school in Boston — a trait he would later pass onto me. Earlier this year, Matt Strahm, a reliever for the Philadelphia Phillies, observed that Major League Baseball fans were being put at risk with the extension of alcohol sales beyond the seventh inning despite shortened game times due to the newly implemented pitch clock. So this summer I decided to attend as many MLB games as possible to gather data and conduct interviews on this issue."
Garcia further stated: "Born and raised in Las Cruces, I have both a desire and commitment to see New Mexico thrive."
Aggie Shark Tank is supported by the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship. It provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to present their ideas, gain insights from seasoned investors and potentially secure investments for business initiation. Entrepreneurs benefit from exposure, validation, potential funding and networking opportunities by participating in this innovative platform, according to the Aggie Shark Tank webpage provided by NMSU.
