Cal State San Bernardino student entrepreneurs competed at the 2018 Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition on Nov. 8, where they each had 90 seconds to pitch their business proposals to a panel of investors. Five semifinalists were chosen to compete for cash prizes at the Spirit of the Entrepreneur gala at the Riverside Convention Center on Nov. 15. The five semifinalists, who will compete in front of an audience of more than 900 top professionals throughout the Inland Empire, are Nicole Lundquist, Alondra Martinez, Carlos Zapeda, Abdoullah Kabbaj and Luis Salgado.The Student Fast Pitch Competition is an innovative program offered by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) that gives CSUSB students an opportunity to jump-start their entrepreneurial dreams by presenting their business venture to a panel of investors and entrepreneurs. The annual competition consists of up to 15 student entrepreneurs giving 90-second fast pitches to a panel of investors and other members of Southern California's entrepreneurial community. Each fast pitch is judged for the quality of the presentation and its investment potential.The annual Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards Program was founded by IECE In 2003. Now in its 16th year, the awards are a reflection of IECE’s passionate belief that the Inland Empire community should honor and reward the entrepreneurial men and women who innovate, take risks and build businesses that contribute significantly to our local economy.Each year, up to 50 students are invited to attend the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards Gala with complimentary tickets from IECE, giving them an opportunity to meet and network with nearly 1,000 business leaders and entrepreneurs that serve as outstanding role models of entrepreneurial success.To learn more about the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards, visit its website at entre.csusb.edu/content/spirit-of-the-entrepreneur-awards.For more information about the Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition, visit its website at iece.csusb.edu/content/fast-pitch.