Summary:
Voltair won the $25,000 grand prize at UW’s Dempsey Startup Competition for their AI-powered, self-charging drones designed to prevent wildfires.
The competition saw 174 startups from 23 institutions, awarding over $87,000 in prizes.
HashiCorp, founded by UW alumni, was honored as Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year after its $6.4 billion acquisition by IBM.
Other winners included BioSyft Technologies, Universal Extrusion Solutions, and Revyn Medical Technologies, each addressing critical industry challenges.
Voltair plans summer pilot tests on Orcas Island, aiming to make their drones fully autonomous for power line maintenance.
Voltair Takes Home the Grand Prize with Innovative Drone Technology
The University of Washington’s 28th annual Dempsey Startup Competition concluded with Voltair, a startup developing self-charging drones equipped with AI to survey electrical lines for potential threats, winning the $25,000 grand prize. This groundbreaking technology aims to prevent wildfires by identifying hazards like vegetation encroachment and hardware degradation on power lines.
A Record-Breaking Competition
With 174 startups from 23 colleges and universities entering, the competition was fiercer than ever. The event, hosted by the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, awarded over $87,000 in prizes, highlighting the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest.
HashiCorp Honored as Alumni Entrepreneurs of the Year
The ceremony also celebrated HashiCorp, co-founded by UW alumni Armon Dadgar and Mitchell Hashimoto, as the Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year. Acquired by IBM for $6.4 billion, HashiCorp’s journey from a student project to a tech giant underscores the potential of UW’s entrepreneurial programs.
Other Notable Winners
- BioSyft Technologies (UW): Won the $15,000 second place prize for their AI tool analyzing animal behaviors in drug development.
- Universal Extrusion Solutions (EWU): Took the $10,000 third place prize for their plastic recycling device for 3D printers.
- Revyn Medical Technologies (UVic): Secured the $7,500 fourth place prize for innovative gynecological exam devices.
The Future of Voltair
Voltair is already planning pilot tests with a utility on Washington’s Orcas Island this summer. Their drones, capable of semi-autonomous operation, aim to become fully autonomous, revolutionizing power line maintenance and wildfire prevention.
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