Ball State Student Pitching Waterless Car Wash Concept

(photo courtesy Flipside Mobile Carwash)

A senior marketing major from Ball State University will next month pitch a unique concept at the Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition on the campus of Texas Christian University. Rhett Barker will present his startup, Flipside Mobile Carwash LLC, which is described as a waterless car wash service.

A total of 50 college undergraduates from throughout the world will compete for $250,000 in cash and prizes. Ball State says each student will pitch their ideas, which also benefit the environment, community, or a specific population.

Barker says the idea for Flipside Mobile Carwash came during the droughts in California, where car washes were outlawed. The university says Barker’s company uses between two and four ounces of water per wash, whereas a traditional car wash uses between 80 and 120 gallons of water per car.

"We’re competing against people who are making some great innovations in the medical field through technology and a couple of them have already been listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30," said Barker. "We really think that we have a great added value proposition."

Ball State says Flipside has already established partnerships with several businesses in the Indianapolis area and he has plans to expand the company to other cities such as Houston and Dallas over the next year.

The winning pitch at the Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition will win $125,000 in cash and in-kind awards. You can learn more about the competition by clicking here.