Summary:
WheelPrice won the $20,000 first prize in StartUp Westport’s inaugural pitch competition for its innovative car wheel marketplace
Five finalists pitched ideas ranging from healthcare solutions like ChromaShield and Mirabelle to sustainable snacks like NeuroPuffs
Judges and a live audience of 400 people evaluated pitches based on scalability, business model, and problem-solving
All entrepreneurs received funding, with the remaining $5,000 split among the other four startups
The event highlighted Connecticut’s growing startup ecosystem, supported by mentors and investors
The Pitch Competition That Showcased Innovation
Creativity, passion, entrepreneurship, and risk were on full display at the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum, where a full house gathered for StartUp Westport’s first-ever Pitch Competition. With a total prize pool of $25,000 on the line, five promising startups pitched their ideas in a Shark Tank-like scenario, hoping to impress a panel of experienced judges and a live audience.
The Finalists: From Healthcare to Snacks
The competition featured five finalists, selected from 77 applicants and months of mentorship from StartUp Westport volunteers. Each team had to meet strict criteria, including a pre-institutional funding round, an existing corporation, a Connecticut-based founder or strong state association, and a scalable business model. They had just 6 minutes to pitch and 6 minutes to answer probing questions from judges Kira Vanderwert, Kal Amin, Matt Gorin, and Cliff Sirlin—all seasoned venture investors.
ChromaShield
A team from the University of Connecticut presented ChromaShield, a wearable patch and monitoring platform designed to reduce complications from chemotherapy, such as radiation dermatitis and foot ulcers.
Nexa Tax
Created by a former University of Bridgeport athlete, Nexa Tax is an app that helps college athletes manage the tax aspects of their name, image, and likeness (NIL) earnings. As more athletes earn from NIL deals, this platform addresses a growing need for tax management.
Mirabelle
With roots at Cornell University, Mirabelle offers a device for women to detect and monitor breast cancer, providing breast health in your hands. It also serves as a tool for healthcare providers in underserved areas, adding a touch of humor with beta testers dubbed "the titty committee."
WheelPrice
Addressing a niche market of car wheel enthusiasts, WheelPrice from UConn aims to organize the chaotic online marketplace for wheels, with over 620,000 wheels listed. The founder pitched it as "reinventing the wheel marketplace."
NeuroPuffs
Developed by Yale University graduate students, NeuroPuffs are mushroom-based snacks made from upcycled food waste, coated in real powdered cheese, and packed in compostable bags. They promote "guilt-free snacking" that's "good for the brain, kind to the planet."
The Judging and Audience Vote
After the pitches, the judges deliberated while the audience voted via QR code. WheelPrice narrowly won the audience vote, edging out Mirabelle 34% to 31%. The judges agreed, awarding WheelPrice the $20,000 non-dilutive first prize for its impressive business model, scalability, and pitch. The other four startups split the remaining $5,000, with the judges noting that all ideas were "impressive, inspiring, and solving real problems."
A Hub for Entrepreneurship
The event drew a crowd of 400 people, including fellow entrepreneurs and investors, highlighting StartUp Westport’s mission to make Westport the entrepreneurial and innovation capital of Connecticut. As a 3-year-old public/private partnership, it continues to foster innovation with support from lead sponsor Coastal Bridge Advisors.
Keep an eye on these startups—they’re just getting started.
Comments