The Launch Place Holds its 10th IdeaFest Competition
The Launch Place (TLP) received 134 applications for its 10th IdeaFest Pitch Competition from various start-up companies located in the US and abroad. The top competitors took the stage to present their innovative business ideas at 2 Witches Winery and Brewing Company in Danville, VA today.
The competition kicked off at 1:00pm, with a keynote from entrepreneur, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer, Rich Brancaccio. Rich is currently the 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 startup 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.
The winner of this year’s IdeaFest competition was Counterforce Health, who was awarded a $5,000 cash prize. Counterforce Health is a technology-driven platform leveraging AI to help patients and clinics challenge unjust health insurance claim denials.
Second place and a $3,000 cash award went to Seamless Transition. Seamless Transition is the designer of Endura Knee, a revolutionary multi-use prosthetic knee that enhances natural movement and accessibility for amputees worldwide.
Ara Platforms took home third place with a $2,000 cash prize. Ara is the GitHub for analytics, centralizing analytics work across tools while enabling seamless team collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The Launch Place, located in the River District of Danville, 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 launch, or are seeking early stage capital. The Launch Place could potentially invest in the company from its Seed and Pre-Seed Funds that were established from a grant awarded by the Danville Region Foundation.
IdeaFest Judges and Master of Ceremonies
- Dr. Iulian Bobe, MBA: Chief Strategist, Sun Metalon, Inc.; Co-Founder, Circ
- Jan Davis: Retired CEO, ShopperTrak RCT Corporation; Investor, RTP Angel Fund; Professor of the Practice; The Launch Place Board Member
- Marty Kaszubowski: Technology Venture Consultant; The Launch Place Seed Fund Advisory Board Member
- Paul Nolde: Managing Director, 757 Collab; Executive Director, 757 Angels; The Launch Place Board Member
- Autumn Visser: Co-Chair of the Corporate & Business Transactions Practice Group at Woods Rogers; The Launch Place’s legal counsel
- Master of Ceremonies: Mark Friedman, President and Co-founder of RTP Capital Associates; CEO of Lakeview Business Advisory; The Launch Place Board Member
IdeaFest 2025 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: Where data professionals transform their analyses into compelling stories, build their reputation, and inspire others.
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.
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