Golf enterprise management major Drew Pemberton pitched his FitCore App idea at the 2026 WiSys Big Idea Tournament, an entrepreneurship competition open to undergraduate and graduate students. He was one of 13 students representing nine Universities of Wisconsin schools.
Pemberton participated in WiSys Innovation On Ramp last fall and pitched his FitCore idea at UW-Stout’s Innovation On Ramp Showcase, the university’s Big Idea Pitch Tournament Qualifier, where he earned second place to serve as the alternative UW-Stout representative at the Big Idea Tournament.
As the digital world continues to expand, FitCore is a fully automated fitness program designed to improve activity rates and maximize a user’s productivity each week. “To help college students and adults balance a busy work-life schedule, FitCore’s main goal is to allow these individuals to be able to exercise without stressing to find time to go to the gym, pay for an instructor, etc.,” Pemberton said.
As a participant in On Ramp and WiSys Big Idea, Pemberton was able to acquire a greater understanding of what it’s like to take on any entrepreneurial goal. “Being able to connect with professors, industry leaders, and other students from around the state has been a great opportunity to acquire new ideas and learn from different perspectives,” he said. “As a participant in WiSys, I went into the presentations with no prior experience and came out of it feeling much more prepared and confident speaking to audiences about personal ideas.”
Pemberton will graduate in May 2027 and hopes to make an impact in the golf industry by working with high-end resorts or private clubs.
“I hope to lead a team and push others to go beyond what they’re comfortable doing. I strive to carry everything I’ve gained at Stout into the professional world and build my career around the advantages and support from the professors and lessons learned in the hospitality program,” he said.
The WiSys Big Idea Tournament teaches students cutting-edge lean startup business development tools, provides business mentorship and allows participants to compete at a state level for a chance to win seed funding for their idea.
