Two Auburn Engineering students reach Tiger Cage final round

Vince Visser developed a plan that can keep sun-kissed boat docks cooler during the summer. Liam Heary has an idea that could expand snack choices globally.

Both Auburn Engineering students advanced into the Tiger Cage Student Business Idea final round, where six teams will compete for a share of $105,000 in startup capital on March 28 inside Horton-Hardgrave Hall’s Broadway Event and Space Theater.

Visser, a sophomore in industrial and systems engineering, and Liam Heary, a sophomore in computer science and software engineering, with teammate Harrison Ranier (apparel merchandising), impressed a team of industry professional judges enough to cruise through the semifinals on Friday, Feb. 28. 

Presented by the New Venture Accelerator and Harbert College of Business, Tiger Cage provides months of coaching and mentoring to students on how to develop business plans, evolving those plans and pitching ideas before industry professional judges or potential investors.

Making dock life more enjoyable in the hot summertime

Ever burn the bottom of your feet on a hot wooden deck? With Polar Docks, Visser has an answer.

“It started with a scorching hot summer day fishing on our (Lake Martin) lake dock,” Visser said. “My brother and I had to constantly spray the dock off with a hose to try to cool to unbearably hot and dry wood planks. It was such a hassle! That's when we had the idea: what if we could install a sprinkler system on the pier as an innovative alternative?”

The solution: misting rods built into the dock.

“Word spread quickly, and soon, our neighbors — tired of burning their feet — were all talking about Polar Docks,” Visser said. “It became a hit in our Lake Martin community. We're proud to offer a solution that makes dock life more enjoyable, and we're excited to continue expanding and serving our community.

“Auburn Engineering does a great job of giving students the opportunity to visualize a project and turn it into a reality, which applies to all aspects of life. It has also given me the ability to work with a team, use best practices and always to think outside the box — which is key when running a start-up.”

Connecting cultures through snacks

Heary and Ranier compete in the breaststroke and butterfly, respectively, for Auburn University’s men’s swimming team. Through their experiences as athletes, they saw firsthand how many international students miss snacks from their home countries. Thus, Planet of Snacks was born.

“We provide monthly explorer boxes designed to connect customers to snacks from around the globe,” Heary said.

Containing chips, cookies and assorted snacks from across the world, each box reads, “Planet of Snacks was born from a simple idea: to share the planet’s flavors with everyone. Each snack in your box represents a piece of a culture, a tradition, or a memory from far away. Our mission is to spark curiosity and bring a taste of the planet to your doorstep. contains a handful of chips, cookies and assorted snacks from across the world.”

As Planet of Snacks’ “tech guy,” Heary uses skills learned in computer science classes, while Ranier serves as graphics designer. “Together, we are the brains behind the project,” he said.

“The authenticity of Planet of Snacks has made it really easy to connect with people because many people we run into every day share their personal connection with snacks,” Heary said. “Planet of Snacks is connecting cultures through snacks, starting here with Auburn students. We have the largest available selection of country specific boxes available on the market.” 

Other teams reaching the final round included Trusty (Eliot Wilson-Daniel, business administration), Tradition Apparel (Harrison Irby, finance), Bandit Duck Calls (Simon Worley, management) and Protector Innovations (Sophia Aulisio, accounting).

First place will receive $30,000 in startup capital. The remaining prize breakdown is: second place $20,000, third place $15,000, fourth place $10,000, and $5,000 each for the Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management “Special Award” and two “Soar Awards” designated by judges.

New Venture Accelerator Director Lou Bifano is encouraged not only by the continued variety of diverse business ideas, but how students involved in the annual competition have developed their business plans and pitching skills since beginning the program in the fall.

“This year's Tiger Cage cohort has shown remarkable growth and innovation,” he said. “The progress we've seen from the initial stages of idea development to the polished business plans and compelling pitches is a testament to their commitment and the support provided by the program. We can’t thank the New Venture Accelerator’s entrepreneurs-in-residence enough for their passion to ensure that our students develop. It's exciting to witness their transformation into confident entrepreneurs ready to tackle real-world challenges and seize opportunities. I look forward to seeing how their ventures evolve and contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.”