IdeaFest

THANK YOU for Joining Us for the 10th IdeaFest Business Pitch Competition on April 2, 2025

IdeaFest 2025 Winners

10th Annual IdeaFest Winners

IdeaFest is an exciting, fast-paced business pitch competition where 20 finalists pitch an original business idea to a panel of expert judges and a live audience and compete for $10,000 in prize money. The top three competitors will be awarded $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place and $2,000 for third place. Competitors have 3 minutes to present their idea followed by 3 minutes of Q&A with the judges’ panel.

Winners of the competition will also be eligible to receive twenty-five hours of free business consulting from The Launch Place. The Launch Place, assists with business formation, job creation and retention through its business consulting services and investment funding, while having a dual responsibility to recruit and retain entrepreneurs to the Dan River Region. The IdeaFest competition exposes The Launch Place’s services and funds to start-up companies that are ready to establish or seeking early-stage capital. The Launch Place could potentially invest in the company from its Seed and Pre-Seed Funds.

Awards

Meet the Finalists!

Watt Build: Uses compelling software and user experience to create ready buyers for distributed energy products.

SoberRide: An advanced anti-drunk driving system that uses AI-enhanced ethanol sensors and facial analysis to prevent intoxicated drivers from operating vehicles.

JobSpeed: A revolutionary job application tracking tool that replaces cumbersome spreadsheets with an intuitive system where application summaries, notes, contacts, documents, and calendar reminders are just a click away.

RANDAO by CipherPlay: Revolutionizing the blockchain industry by solving the on-chain randomness problem. With the groundbreaking RANDAO protocol, we unlock new possibilities for decentralized applications, including gaming, lotteries, casinos, raffles, and loot boxes.

B & C's Gloves: Revolutionizing the fishing experience with its patented 2-in-1 gloves, combining superior hand protection with a built-in grip and scaler for effortless fish handling.

Counterforce Health: A technology-driven platform leveraging AI to help patients and clinics challenge unjust health insurance claim denials.

Seamless Transition: Designer of Endura Knee, a revolutionary multi-use prosthetic knee that enhances natural movement and accessibility for amputees worldwide.

FuelWell: Devices that help with saving fuel and reducing emissions for vehicles in the secondary transportation market.

Sense It: An innovative, themed sensory flip book made for children who have autism or sensory sensitivities.

Robinhood Therapy: Provides specialized therapy for executives, entrepreneurs & leaders.

Ara Platforms: Ara is the GitHub for analytics, centralizing analytics work across tools while enabling seamless team collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Telkes: An early-stage startup that aims to manufacture prefabricated solar homes to address both the housing shortages and solar access gap.

Gallery Box: A unique art curation service that bridges the gap between local artists and communities through two primary offerings: interactive artist-led workshops for organizations and a curated DIY arts kit designed to bring creativity into any space.

Kahmino: An AI-powered platform which delivers curated, personalized neighborhood recommendations - helping movers confidently choose the right area before they start searching for homes.

Beige: Offering iOS training apps with real-time form correction and guidance for users and coaches.

CareHome Health Solutions: Creates risk-preventative, smart devices that enhance senior independence and support caregivers.

SoiLaDee Farm Co.: An urban gardening and hydroponics company dedicated to providing fresh, healthy, and exotic foods through sustainable practices.

No Show Hero: Turns last-minute cancellations into real-time opportunities with a two-way marketplace that connects service providers with open slots to appointment seekers looking for flexible, on-demand booking.

Nearby Nearby: The first local discovery platform built specifically for rural America, making it easy to find and support nearby businesses, events, and services - all in one search.

Meet the 10th Annual IdeaFest Keynote Speaker

Rich Brancaccio, Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Pearson

Rich Brancaccio is a senior director at Pearson Clinical Assessments and leads Pearson’s newly acquired wearable technology group. As a school psychologist passionate about helping children with focus and attention challenges, Rich invented the original Revibe device to help children perform to their fullest potential. 

With this technology, he founded Revibe Technologies (The Launch Place investment portfolio company) and led the company as CEO for over 8 years. With four patents granted and over a decade of experience in the technology sector and another decade of experience as a psychologist in the school system, Rich has consistently fused psychology with technology to push the boundaries of what's possible in the development of industry-first digital solutions to level the playing field for individuals with unique learning challenges.  

Meet the Judges

Master of Ceremonies: Mark Friedman, President and Co-founder of RTP Capital Associates; CEO of Lakeview Business Advisory; The Launch Place Board Member

Click this link to learn more about IdeaFest’s judges

10th Annual IdeaFest Finalists

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