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<\/p>\nCreativity, passion, entrepreneurship, risk \u2014 and $25,000 \u2014 were on the line last night.<\/p>\n
A full house packed the Westport Library\u2019s Trefz Forum, for StartUp Westport\u2019s first-ever Pitch Competition.<\/p>\n
Two healthcare companies, a tax platform for college athletes, a healthy and environmentally conscious mushroom-based snack, and a new marketplace for wheels were the 5 ideas pitched by eager teams of young hopefuls, in a \u201cShark Tank\u201d-like scenario.<\/p>\n
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The 4 judges \u2014 all experienced entrepreneurs \u2014 headed off stage, to deliberate.<\/p>\n
The audience used a QR code, for their own (non-binding) vote. The wheels marketplace \u2014 WheelPrice \u2014 edged out a device that personalizes and simplifies breast cancer detection, 34% to 31%.<\/p>\n
The judges stepped back on stage. They agreed: WheelPrice won the $20,000 non-dilutive first prize.<\/p>\n
But all the entrepreneurs were winners. The other 4 split the remaining $5,000.<\/p>\n
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Energy was high, in the half hour before the formal pitches began. The 5 finalists each had a table.<\/p>\n
They\u2019d been culled from 77 applicants, and semi-finalists. For months they\u2019d honed their ideas, and been mentored by StartUp Westport volunteers.<\/p>\n
Criteria included a pre-institutional funding round; an existing\u00a0corporation in an evaluable category; a Connecticut-based founder or strong state association, and a scalable business model.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Each hopeful had 6 minutes to pitch judges Kira Vanderwert, Kal Amin, Matt Gorin and Cliff Sirlin \u2014 all experienced venture investors \u2014 and 6 minutes to answer probing questions about the problem being addressed, market size, revenue model, competitive advantage and more.<\/p>\n
A team from the University of Connecticut pitched ChromaShield<\/a>. The wearable patch and monitoring platform reduces complications of skin damage from chemotherapy, like radiation dermatitis and foot ulcers.<\/p>\n ChromaShield<\/p>\n Nexa Tax<\/a>, created by a former University of Bridgeport athlete, is an app that helps college athletes manage the tax aspects of their \u201cname, image and likeness\u201d earnings. As the number of those students grows, their tax burdens will too. But, the founder says, too few of those athletes know how to handle them.<\/p>\n Nexa Tax<\/p>\n Mirabelle<\/a> \u2014 \u201cbreast health, in your hands\u201d \u2014 is a device by which women can detect and monitor themselves for breast cancer. It\u2019s also a tool for healthcare providers in underserved areas. The founders, with Cornell University roots, added humor to the serious nature of their company (they call beta testers \u201cthe titty committee\u201d).<\/p>\n Mirabelle\u00a0<\/p>\n WheelPrice<\/a> addressed a problem unknown to many in audience: how to manage the marketplace for car wheels. Like sneakers and watches, it\u2019s a niche filled with fanatics. But right now, the UConn founder says, there are 620,000 wheels listed online \u201cchaotically.\u201d His platform \u201creinvents the wheel \u2026 marketplace.\u201d<\/p>\n WheelPrice<\/p>\n NeuroPuffs<\/a> were created by Yale University graduate students. The product \u2014 mushrooms and upcycled food waste, dried using a special process, coated in real powdered cheese, and packed in compostable bags \u2014 provides \u201cguilt-free snacking.\u201d They\u2019re \u201cgood for the brain, kind to the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n NeuroPuffs<\/p>\n The decision was tough, the judges said. All the ideas were \u201cimpressive, inspiring, and solving real problems.\u201d<\/p>\n But WheelPrice had the best business model. It seemed the most scalable. Its pitch was most impressive.<\/p>\n WheelPrice founders (5th and 6th from left), with StartUp Westport Pitch director Peter Propp (4th from left), and other entrepreneurs, plus StartUp Westport co-founder Cliff Sirlin (2nd from right) and Coastal Bridge partner Bill Loftus (far right). (All photos\/Dan Woog)<\/p>\n \u00a0Still: Keep your eye out for the other 4 startups too.<\/p>\n The crowd of 400 included many fellow entrepreneurs \u2014 and investors.<\/p>\n The wheels in their heads were turning, as each founder gave their pitch.<\/p>\n (StartUp Westport is a 3-year-old public\/private partnership, aimed at making this town the entrepreneurial and innovation capital of the state. To learn more about StartUp Westport, click here.<\/a> The lead sponsor for the Pitch Competition was Coastal Bridge Advisors<\/a>.)<\/p>\n (\u201c06880\u201d covers business, technology, Westport organizations, and much more. If you like stories like this \u2014 where they all come together \u2014 please click here to support our work<\/a>. Thank you!)<\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/StartUp-pitch-ChromaShield-1.jpg\")
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