Pitch Pit and Showcase Presentations

Showcase Presentations

Marcedes-Antoniya Preston with Celer Energy. Celer Energy has developed the world’s first room-temperature sodium battery, delivering unmatched safety, rock solid reliability, and long-lasting performance. Its breakthrough replaces molten sodium with a durable, solid-state electrolyte that operates at room temperature and below, eliminating the need for complex heating systems.

Kyle Lammers with AgriDynamics. AgriDynamics builds physical AI for specialty crops to address critical farm labor shortages. The company’s goal is to transform agriculture with intelligent robots that protect every harvest and enable a more sustainable future.

Pitch Pit Competition

Selected entrepreneurs will each give a four-minute pitch of their business plan to a panel of investor judges in a “Shark Tank” format.  PowerPoint slides are not permitted. Think of it as the proverbial “elevator speech.”

After all of the pitches are completed, the judges will give detailed feedback. At the end of the evening, the person with the highest score will receive the opportunity to receive a Business Readiness Assessment coaching session with New Enterprise Forum coaches. Interested in pitching your own idea? Apply here!

Participants

Sierra Lambert with Gig-L

Caitlyn Chen with Imgo

Maria Haugen with Foxx Health

Judges

Steve Tokarz of Cantilever Investors. Steve is an experienced C-level entrepreneur, fundraiser and business developer and has been active in early-stage company and product development for the past 30 years. He is founder of Cantilever Investors, a blend of the best of Venture Capital and Private Equity to invest in and provide support to early-stage companies. Cantilever acts as both investor and, for the select few, operators in the company. Cantilever also has close relationships with several Michigan based universities successfully spinning out five university companies, raising over $7M in nondilutive capital.

Reuben Levinsohn of Washington Avenue Advisors & Investors. Reuben has been an avid entrepreneur since his early 20’s, founding his first business while attending Michigan State University. He had his first exit at age 30 and then pursued his passion of helping people make smart life and wealth choices as a financial advisor, maintaining advisory and fiduciary relationships with select clients today. Reuben is an impact angel investor, advisor, and mentor to startup companies and founders. He and his partners founded Washington Avenue Ventures where they focus on investing, consulting, and partnering with early stage and growth stage companies looking to scale or exit.

Networking

Come join us in person to enjoy food and drink and conversation with members of the local startup community.

Featured Sponsor

To be announced soon!