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Valuing a company can take hours of careful financial analysis: digging through data, building models, and defending every assumption.

Caleb Smit wanted to change that.

At the 2026 Larry and Joan Arnold CEED Pitch Challenge, Smit presented an automated financial model that uses Python and artificial intelligence to deliver detailed, defensible company valuations in a matter of minutes. Hosted by Morningside University, the competition brings together student teams from across the region to pitch entrepreneurial ideas in just five minutes, followed by a Q&A with judges.

Smit’s project stood out—not just for its technical sophistication, but for its practical application. He was named a judge’s favorite, recognition that affirmed both the need for the tool and the clarity of his pitch.

“They encouraged me to keep pursuing it because there is real demand for something like this,” he says.

The idea didn’t come together overnight. Smit spent three to four months developing and refining the model, followed by several days preparing his presentation. While building the tool required technical skill, communicating it proved just as challenging.

“Trying to get everything into five minutes while still making it clear and impactful was probably the hardest part,” he says.

Throughout the process, Smit worked closely with Mark Mondoka, Dordt’s entrepreneur-in-residence who teaches on the topic of AI in business. Mondoka’s mentorship helped shape both the technical development and Smit’s approach to problem-solving.

“He gave me insights—especially on the technical side—that I wouldn’t have been able to figure out on my own,” Smit says. “He helped me think differently—not just about how to talk about the idea, but how to actually build something like this.”

That blend of theory and application is something Smit sees as central to his experience in Dordt’s business program. Opportunities like the CEED Pitch Challenge push students to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in real-world settings.

“I think my pitch stood out because it was something the judges could actually see themselves using,” he says. “Many of them were in finance-related roles, so it connected with their experience.”

More broadly, the experience reinforced a lesson Smit says has been consistent throughout his time at Dordt: preparation drives both confidence and results.

“One thing I’ll take with me into my career is to fall in love with the process, not just the results,” he says. “Both confidence and outcomes reflect the level of preparation you put in.”

After graduation, Smit will work as a valuation analyst at Chartwell Financial in Minneapolis—a role closely aligned with the type of financial modeling he developed for the competition and similar to work he completed during the Georgia State University Valuation Competition. He credits those experiences with helping prepare him for the position.

For Smit, the competition was more than a chance to present an idea—it was an opportunity to build something meaningful, test it under pressure, and see its potential beyond the classroom.

“Overall, it was a great experience,” he says. “I’m especially grateful for the Dordt Business Department and how the professors push students to step into opportunities like this.”