RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – IdeaFest is a Business Pitch Competition from The Launch Place where finalists will pitch their startup idea to a panel of judges and a live audience.  The top three competitors will be awarded $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place and $2,000 for third place.

The Launch Place operates two locations – in Research Triangle Park and Danville, Va.

IdeaFest is a live event held on Thursday, April 20thstarting at 1pm at 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. located at 209 Trade St, Danville, VA.

Register to Attend

Meet the IdeaFest Finalists

  1. Elysia Creative Biology – Eli Hornstein
  2. Salem – Trevor Gingras
  3. BioSensys– Jocelyne Akamaliza and Robin Jacob
  4. Verenovo Energy – Hayden Miller
  5. Gemini III Technologies – John Marshall
  6. Lithium Technologies, Inc. – Brian Keenum
  7. ELDR End of Life Design – Christy Lee Knutson
  8. Truth Or Err – Keenan Headen
  9. XStar Research LLC – Rick Fenrich
  10. VENT – Takita Walker and Shakeva Frazier
  11. Turnip – Dwight Brake
  12. Trova Commercial Vehicles, Inc. – Chad Lee Burchett
  13. Leantime – Gloria Folaron
  14. ExstoBio – Juan Carlos Pacheco
  15. CareYaya Health Technologies Inc. – Neal K. Shah
  16. Tromml – Lauren McCullough
  17. Nanode Battery Technologies Inc. – Brian Worfolk
  18. Sprocketz – Noon Farsab
  19. NursesBnB – Keisha Manning

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.

IdeaFest Judges

  • Jan L. Davis, Retired CEO, ShopperTrak RCT Corporation; Investor and Vice Chair, Triangle Angel Partners; Board Vice-Chair, The Launch Place
  • Pat Gouhin, CAE, Angel Capital Association, CEO
  • Mark Granville, Screening Chair, RTP Capital; Board Vice-Chair, The Launch Place Seed Fund
  • Robbie Hardy, Founder and Chair of xElle Ventures; Board Member, The Launch Place Seed Fund
  • Marty Kaszubowski, Technology Mentor, Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP), Virginia Small Business Development Center Network, George Mason University; Board Member, The Launch Place

Keynote Speaker

Patrick Gouhin, CAE, CEO, Angel Capital Association

Patrick Gouhin is presently serving in his fourth year as the CEO of the Angel Capital Association. ACA is a professional society for accredited angel investors, North America’s most prolific early-stage investment class. ACA represents 15,000+ member accredited angel investors, 250 angel groups, accredited platforms and family offices and more than 30,000 entrepreneurial companies that are in ACA member investment portfolios. Before joining ACA, Mr. Gouhin spent 12 years as the Executive Director and CEO of the International Society of Automation (ISA) and then 15 years with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). During his tenure at ISA he provided leadership toward the creation of many new initiatives and companies. At AIAA, Mr. Gouhin served as the Chief Operating Officer whereby his leadership contributions resulted in significant revenue growth and the successful management of 300+ project teams through development and delivery of multiple products and services.