NeuroVice, an emerging company that’s developed a tongue protector to prevent tongue-biting and drooling during a seizure, will represent the Triangle in the upcoming 1776 Challenge Cup pitch event.

Judges selected NeuroVice as the winner among 16 presenters at a regional event hosted by the American Underground.

“Some of the reasons the judges selected NeuroVice was because of its unique market, and a fairly uncompetitive landscape,” says Phillipe Charles, Director of Communications & Member Experience at the American Underground.

“Also, the founder, Ashlyn Sanders, has firsthand knowledge of the problem. She created the device after having seizures of her own stemming from a rare brain abnormality and the resulting surgeries

“Finally, she is well-positioned to benefit from some of the strategic partners that she will have access to through the 1776 Challenge Cup.”

NeuroVice will be competing for cash prizes and investments of up to $1 million.

Top prize for winning the local event is an expense-paid trip to New York City for the finals.

[VIDEO: Watch an overview about NeuroVice technology at https://vimeo.com/218688125 ]

Sanders is raising funding for her venture at IFundWoemn.

A year ago, Neuro+, a Triangle startup, advanced from the local competition and made it to the global finals.

1776 describes itself as “a global incubator and seed fund that believes startups can change the world. We’re building a global community to provide the intellectual, social and financial capital these startups need to succeed.” The fund’s website lists 31 investments to date.

The N.C. startups selected to pitch in Durham were:

Data and Information

  • 2U Laundry
  • All Elements
  • Blinded HR
  • Boostopia
  • Caarmo
  • Cultivate
  • Geneffects
  • Goodbookey
  • Intersect
  • Papirys

Energy

  • Electric Spokes

Food

  • Manolin

Health

  • Cloudadic
  • NeuroVice
  • Pharmasense
  • Voxelight

The American Underground is a member of the 1776 Startup Federation. As a Federation participant, AU clients have “free access to 1776 and other global tech hubs.” There are 16 Federation hubs around the world participating in the event,