2 student entrepreneurs + a new fishing app = $16K in prizes

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UNA student entrepreneurs and CastOff co-founders Hayden Blakely and Sam Hathcock show their check prizes on April 14, 2026 after winning first prize and best video in the annual UNA Big Ideas competition.
From left, UNA finance students and business co-founders Hayden Blakely and Sam Hathcock show their winnings in the 2026 UNA Big Ideas competition, which announced winners on April 14, 2026. (Hayden Blakely)

Last year, two University of North Alabama student entrepreneurs teamed to co-found a company to make fishing more tech-savvy, fun and accessible. Sam Hathcock of Jackson, Tennessee, and Hayden Blakely of Athens immediately set about refining the concept with mentors they connected with at The Generator, part of UNA Sanders College of Business and Technology.

In April 2026, the young men reeled in $16,000 in one week through two pitch competitions, winning the overall prize and the best video in UNA’s annual BIG Ideas student innovation contest and then taking the top prize of $10,000 in the Singing River Trail Launch Tank competition.

Watch a video and read more about their company, CastOff, how they built it and opportunities for student entrepreneurs like them at UNA.

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UNA College of Business and Technology
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Lisa Battles
Lisa Battles

Lisa is a content strategist, editor and writer with 25+ years of experience in news, marketing and PR for leading brands in tourism, economic development, media and music. She is a journalism graduate of Auburn University.

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