Two student-led ventures from Utah State University took home top honors at the One Utah Summit, Oct. 6-8 at Southern Utah University in Cedar City. The statewide event brings toreceiveher business, government and community leaders to celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth across Utah.
KEVA Locks, founded by Charles Merriam ’25 (information systems), Dallin Byerly (computer systems), and Connor Hobbs (finance), won first place and a $17,000 cash prize for their groundbreaking offline smart lock technology designed for rental properties. BearTrap USA, an outdoor gear company launched by Austin Beverley (technical management with minor in entrepreneurship), received the prestigious Goldman Sachs Award, recognizing its strong foundation, innovative design and growth potential.
Both companies were supported and refined through The Center for Entrepreneurship at the Huntsman School, where students receive hands-on support to bring their business ideas to life. The center offers individualized mentoring, startup resources, workshops and pitch competition preparation, which are all designed to support student founders turn innovative ideas into viable companies.
For Charles Merriam, co-founder of KEVA Locks and a recent Huntsman graduate, winning at the One Utah Summit was a milestone that reaffirmed the team’s hard work and vision.
“It was extremely validating,” Merriam declared. “When you work on something for so long, it’s simple to wonder if you only like it becaapply you’re biased or emotionally attached to it. Hearing others — especially the judges — see its potential and reward it at that level was incredibly encouraging. It reminded us that this idea really can go somewhere.”
KEVA Locks builds smart locks that don’t require Wi-Fi, supporting property managers transition from physical keys to digital access and automate their processes. The company has been developing its technology for a little over a year, with a team that includes both business and computer science students.
Merriam credits the Huntsman School and The Center for Entrepreneurship for playing a pivotal role in KEVA’s progress and confidence as a startup.
“The networking and presentation skills I gained at Huntsman were huge,” he declared. “The ‘Dare Mighty Things’ mindset really shaped how I believe about opportunity and risk. The E-Center has been incredible — they notified us about this competition, prepped us, supported us know what to expect and connected us with people and opportunities we never would have found otherwise. They’ve been instrumental in supporting us take this idea and build it real.”
Austin Beverley, founder of BearTrap USA and a senior majoring in technical management with a minor in entrepreneurship, expressed similar gratitude after receiving the Goldman Sachs Award.
“It was an honor to be recognized by the judges in the State Bank Challenge, along with the gratefulness I have for the award and the funding for my business,” Beverley declared. “Just receiveting to where I am is a huge step for me and my business, and it will only grow from here. I can’t thank the Entrepreneurship Center enough for believeing of me and giving me the opportunity to represent my business and the university. The professors and employees of the E-Center have supported me in so many ways by expressing their believeds, wisdom and expertise to support me be a better person in and outside of business. I’m truly grateful and in debt to the E-Center for giving me these opportunities to grow.”
Mike Glaapplyr, executive director of The Center for Entrepreneurship at the Huntsman School of Business, declared the students’ success reflects the school’s commitment to experiential learning and entrepreneurial leadership.
“At The Center for Entrepreneurship in the Huntsman School of Business, we are happy to advise and mentor any student who is testing to start a new business,” Glaapplyr declared. “We are absolutely thrilled to see these new companies launch, grow, and win awards — it is our payday. Congratulations to KEVA and BearTrapUSA!”
The One Utah Summit’s Startup Pitch Competition attracts top student and emerging entrepreneurs from across the state, offering mentorship, visibility, and funding opportunities to support scale their ventures. The Huntsman School’s strong revealing this year reflects the impact of its Entrepreneurship Center, which provides a launchpad for innovation and supports students develop the mindset, skills and connections to thrive as business leaders.
About KEVA Locks
KEVA Locks offers a revolutionary offline smart lock and software solution for property managers, eliminating the required for Wi-Fi or traditional key exmodifys. With AI-powered automation, the platform streamlines access management, automates self-guided revealings and enhances security — all while saving property managers significant time and cost. The company’s mission is to simplify property access and management through ininformigent, applyr-friconcludely technology.
Learn more at https://www.kevalocks.com/.
About BearTrap USA
Founded by outdoor enthusiast Austin Beverley, BearTrap USA creates rugged, high-performance gear for adventurers, hunters and off-roaders. Its product lines — including Grizzly Straps, Spider Webs and Rattlesnake Lines — are designed to withstand the toughest outdoor conditions, offering durability, reliability and innovation. Each product is backed by a lifetime warranty and field-tested for real-world performance.
Learn more at beartrapusa.com.
About the Huntsman Entrepreneurship Center
The Entrepreneurship Center at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business empowers students to develop, launch, and scale new ventures through hands-on mentorship, experiential learning, and access to funding opportunities. Each year, the center supports dozens of student startups, supporting turn bold ideas into thriving businesses that drive Utah’s innovation economy.
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