Aggie PITCH

• Applications Open Online: Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024
• Applications Close: Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024
• Professional Pitch Coaching Session: Full Pitch Finalists (Mandatory): week of March 25-29, 2024
• Professional Pitch Coaching Session: Elevator Pitch Finalists (Mandatory): week of April 1-5, 2024
• Aggie PITCH (Competition Day): Monday, April 15, 2024

Applications for the 2024 Aggie PITCH are now closed.

Any student currently registered at a Texas A&M University campus or Texas A&M University System institution OR a former student that has graduated from any Texas A&M University campus or Texas A&M University System institution is eligible to apply. A list of those universities can be found here. Students and graduates from all degree and professional programs at these institutions are eligible. 

Entries can be an individual or a team, but all entries must have at least ONE member that meets the current or former student criteria. Applications should only be submitted by a qualifying individual who meets the current or former student criteria. Additional team members can be specified in the confirmation following selection as a finalist and can be current or former students of a Texas A&M University System institution or individuals that do not have any affiliation with the Texas A&M University System (will be considered “non-participating team members”). Only current or former students of a Texas A&M University System institution will be allowed to participate in the pitch competition itself or receive prize money; however, non-participating team members may participate in the Q&A portion of the competition. 

If a team consists of both current and former students, only one application should be submitted. To determine whether to apply as a current or former student, identify the Startup Lead and submit based on their status at the time of application. The Startup Lead must have a major role in founding/operating the startup and not solely by serving as an advisor, mentor, employee or consultant. 

In addition to the criteria above, applicants may only apply with startup ventures that have:

• raised less than $1M in external funding AND
• generated less than $250,000 in total revenue.

Company formation is not a requirement to apply. Startups in the concept phase and from all industries are encouraged to apply. 

Eligibility of Past Finalists/Winners:

• Startups that place and receive prize funding at Aggie PITCH [Full Pitch Division] are not eligible to apply in the year immediately following a placing/prize-awarded pitch.
• Startups that place and receive prize funding at Aggie PITCH [Elevator Pitch Division] are eligible to apply in subsequent years.
• An individual who was awarded prize funding [in the Full Pitch Division] with one company may remain eligible to apply in the immediate next year, so long as they are applying with a different startup.
• Any finalist startup that did not place and was not awarded prize money in the previous year is eligible to apply.

NOTE: Finalists must be available to attend the competition in person in College Station April 15, 2024. The McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship does not provide funding for travel or lodging.

An online application is required in order to be considered for participation in Aggie PITCH. The application will include background and other information on the applicant’s startup or business venture, such as:

• Business summary
• Problem
• Solution
• Business Model
• Target Market/Size
• Customers – Current/Potential
• Competitors

In addition to the written components of the application, applicants must also submit a 60 second elevator pitch video.  Not all team members have to appear in the video and applicants may use their best judgement/creativity when determining the content of the video. However, it should serve as a compelling and informative verbal representation of the information presented in the written application. 

In developing both the written application and video, applicants should review the statement below regarding confidentiality as it is the full responsibility of the applicant to ensure there is no unwanted disclosure of proprietary information throughout the application and competition process. 

Following the application deadline, all complete applications will undergo screening by experienced entrepreneurs, business professionals, and other experts that are part of the McFerrin Center network. The scores determined during screening will be used to identify a select group of finalists that will be invited to participate in the competition. The criteria used to evaluate applications can be found on the JUDGES tab. More details on finalist requirements and the competition format can be found on the COMPETITION tab. 

Aggie PITCH features three competition tracks – Full Pitches for current students, Full Pitches for former students and Elevator Pitches. The McFerrin Center invites experienced business experts to review all complete applications and score the online entries to select a group of finalists for each of these tracks. If selected as a finalist, the Startup Lead and any other eligible team members that intend to participate in the competition must commit to attending a one-hour mandatory pitch coaching session prior to the competition day, as well as to attending the competition in-person. 

Both current and former student Full Pitch finalists will present their business, product, or service to the audience and a select group of anonymous judges that are successful entrepreneurs and investors. Full Pitch finalists are allowed four minutes for their pitch, followed by four minutes of Q&A. Full pitch finalists will be allowed to use a presentation or other audio-visual equipment. Printed materials, samples, and/or prototypes are also permitted. The competitors with the top scores submitted by the judges are awarded cash prizes. 

Additional finalists are selected to compete in the Elevator Pitch round during the Aggie PITCH event. Elevator Pitch finalists will be allowed one minute to deliver their pitch, without any Q&A or the use of any presentation materials or audio-visual equipment. Printed materials, samples, and/or prototypes will be permitted. The Elevator Pitch round includes both current and former students and is scored by the audience at large, with the top pitches also being awarded cash prizes.

In developing their pitch and presentation materials, finalists should again keep in mind that it is their full responsibility to protect all proprietary and confidential information. 

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The McFerrin Center hand-selects individuals from our network of mentors, successful entrepreneurs and Texas A&M University faculty to review and score all complete applications, as well as to serve as judges for the competition day.  

The criteria below will be used to evaluate and score applications for the purposes of identifying competition finalists, as well as by judges to determine which finalists will be awarded cash prizes. Recognizing that early-stage startups can be in very different phases of planning or development, both applicants and finalists will be evaluated on a relational scale, taking into consideration these criteria in the context of their specific stage of development.

• Is the startup addressing a significant problem?
• Is there evidence that customers will be willing to pay for their solution?
• Is the problem big enough to build a company around? What is the size of the addressable market?
• Will the solution/technology work? Is there evidence that the solution/technology is feasible and will actually solve the problem (e.g., lab results, field trials)?
• What is the competitive landscape? How are these problems being dealt with today, and does this startup have a significant, sustainable competitive differentiation?
• Is there any intellectual property (IP) or other defensible advantage? What is the status of IP ownership? Does the startup have access to a license or option to commercialize the IP? Are there other startups pursuing this market with similar IP?
• Is this team coachable? Would this be a team I could invest in and work with?
• Does the startup understand key milestones that need to be reached in developing this business?

Thank you to our 2024 Aggie PITCH Prize Sponsors!

Congratulations to the 2024 finalists for Aggie PITCH and their Aggie team members!

Full Pitch Finalists | Current Student Division:

• Cosmic Leap Foundation | Rachelle Pederson ’21, Natasha Wilkerson ’09
  • The Cosmic Leap Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on STEM education with a mission to empower educators to create transformative learning experiences through the lens of space exploration. Space Club was developed by a team of aerospace engineers and science educators to launch students in San Antonio Title 1 middle schools into STEM pathways and has expanded with a network of 342 schools in 12 countries that serve over 6,500 students each year. The Cosmic Leap Foundation was established to sustain these efforts.
• EHR Buddy | Nathaniel Fernandes ’24
  • EHR Buddy’s mission is to help doctors get paid more, on time, and hassle-free by developing a Grammarly-based assistant for physicians that uses AI and natural language processing to proofread clinical notes before they are submitted to insurance companies. Their technology will offer insurance-company-compliant suggestions that will simultaneously reduce the number of claims denied by insurance companies and increase the value of each submitted claim. EHR Buddy ensures the requirements for the CPT or HCPCS code billed for are met before the claim is submitted and uses machine learning to analyze the available documentation and suggest additional ICD-10 codes relevant to a patient to increase the value of each submitted claim.
• ElastaScan | Kaushik Avadhanula ’25, Richard Balbin ’25, Anish Easwaran ’25
  • ElastaScan addresses the pressing issue of ineffective physical therapy treatments for neck and back pain, which will affect over 80% of Americans, leading to decreased productivity and mental well-being, wasting $10-$20 billion annually. The White House-backed, patent-pending wearable device provides real-time monitoring of muscle activation during therapy sessions, offering precise feedback to optimize exercise effectiveness and enhance rehabilitation outcomes, achieving 92.41% accuracy in stiffness measurements.
• Frost Vests | Michael Frost ’26
  • Frost Vests creates vests that use the thermoelectric effect, specifically the Peltier Effect — a facet of the thermoelectric effect whereby heat can be moved from one surface to another with no moving parts, only electricity — to cool down the wearer. For the over 30 million Americans working outside in a hot summer, it’s not just uncomfortable, it’s also dangerous. Frost Vests aims to create portable cooling vests that can keep these workers cool and efficient without a big hassle. This concept can be integrated into PPE, and Frost Vests plans to later expand into consumer products such as personal cooling devices and blankets.
• OhmPera | Sama Almubarak ’23, Hasan Ibrahim ’24
  • New regulations are being put in place by the grid operator in Texas to tackle the on-going issues of grid stability and reliability due to frequent voltage swells and sag events. The new rules will mandate compliance of certain facilities to withstand and overcome pre-defined limits of voltage sags and swells. Currently, most of the targeted facilities won’t be able to comply with these rules and regulations. OhmPera introduces a cost-effective alternative that combines hardware and software techniques allowing these facilities to meet these new standards without relying on large scale and costly energy storage alternatives.
• SheRescue | Suchitaa Sawhney ’24
  • SheRescue is a groundbreaking solution that aims to bridge the gender gap in CPR training with female covers specifically designed and tailored to fit existing male manikins. The female cover addresses the underrepresentation of female physiology in training scenarios, is AED compatible, can be reused and has an anatomical accuracy that is unparalleled in the market, ensuring trainees practice on a realistic model, which is vital for effective learning. SheRescue is more than just a cover; it’s a symbol of equality and inclusivity in life-saving education.

Full Pitch Finalists | Former Student Division:

• Carter’s K-9 LLC | Areona Carter ’23
  • Carter’s K-9 provides comprehensive canine care solutions, offering top-tier services such as boarding, training, daycare and more. With a focus on creating a safe and enriching environment, their goal is to ensure every furry friend receives personalized attention and expert care. Carter’s K-9 addresses challenges faced by pet owners in balancing busy lifestyles with the needs of beloved dogs, with a streamlined process, providing a one-stop destination for all canine care needs. By offering a range of services, including extended boarding, specialized training programs and engaging daycare options, Carter’s K-9 alleviates the stress and inconvenience faced by pet owners.
• NeuroShift | Laura Bauer ’11, Christine Cooper ’19, Joshua Cooper ‘11
  • NeuroShift aims to help people suffering from mental health issues find quick relief from their symptoms by offering an innovative pairing of counseling and microcurrent neurofeedback. This treatment sends small pulses of energy to the brain through EEG electrodes in order to calm the central nervous system and help clear dysregulated brain patterns. Microcurrent neurofeedback is a painless, non-invasive treatment that, when combined with counseling, drives rapid relief of anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders in as little as three-four sessions.
• Unifi Technologies | Tanner Hilton ’16
  • Unifi Technologies manufactures and sells robot pedestals (mounting tables) and other related hardware. Modern robots have unique requirements when it comes to mounting, including engineering reliability and safety. End users are also more frequently installing robots themselves instead of relying on third parties but don’t have access to a pedestal and other mounting equipment for modern robots, including collaborative robots. Unifi Technologies’ pedestals provide advanced technology involved in robot precision not found elsewhere and they are also easy to ship and install by end users with small staffs.
• Walk2Work | David Stewart ’78
  • The Walk2Work Wellness Desk is an innovative and market disruptive desk/workstation that allows users to sit, stand or walk while working, with a treadmill deck that retracts into the desk when not in use. The Walk2Work Wellness Desk addresses the need for regular people, young and old, to get exercise whether at the office or at home, to combat the many health risks associated with prolonged periods of sitting. Its unique features allow the user to sit, stand or walk at a comfortable pace while working on a computer, sending or answering emails, making calls, reading, or watching TV in a home setting.

Elevator Pitch Finalists:

• CheForge | Sangam Chapagain ’26
• Counter | Camron Brown ’25
• GroupHop | Sam Berk ’26, Aleksy Cavazos ’26
• Mouseless Mouse | Armando Bernal ’26, Joshua Perry ’26
• OpioSpray | Val McNeill ’25, Eden Nunn ’25, Rebecca Taylor ’25
• perugu | Janak Abraham ’26, Kieran Beirne ’24, Satwik Putluri ’26, Vikash Ravuri ’26
• Preats | Andrew Evans ’26, Karl Farrar ’26
• SpoonTrack | Fouzul Kansul ’25, Rachel Kurian ’25, Abhinaya Muruganandham ’25
• SunBlossom, LLC | Lenzie Keys ’24
• Switchless | Adis Lujinovic ’25, Nicholas Naugle ’25

2024 Current Student Full Pitch:

1st Place ($7,500) | ElastaScan | Kaushik Avadhanula ’25, Richard Balbin ’25, Anish Easwaran ’25
sponsored by StaffDNA
2nd Place ($5,000) | EHR Buddy | Nathaniel Fernandes ’24
3rd Place ($3,500) | Cosmic Leap Foundation | Rachelle Pederson ’21, Natasha Wilkerson ’09
People’s Choice Award ($1,500) | Cosmic Leap Foundation | Rachelle Pederson ’21, Natasha Wilkerson ’09

2024 Former Student Full Pitch:

1st Place ($7,500) | Unifi Technologies | Tanner Hilton ’16
sponsored by LiquidAgents Healthcare
People’s Choice Award ($1,500) | Unifi Technologies | Tanner Hilton ’16

2024 Elevator Pitch:

1st Place ($1,500) | perugu | Janak Abraham ’26, Kieran Beirne ’24, Satwik Putluri ’26, Vikash Ravuri ’26
sponsored by Edmonds & Cmaidalka, P.C.
2nd Place ($1,000) | Switchless | Adis Lujinovic ’25, Nicholas Naugle ’25
sponsored by Knife River
3rd Place ($750) | SpoonTrack | Fouzul Kansul ’25, Rachel Kurian ’25, Abhinaya Muruganandham ’25
sponsored by Daniel Browne, Ph.D. ’18

2023 Current Student Full Pitch:

1st Place ($7,500) | Club Girl | Katie Calderon ’25
2nd Place ($5,000) | Cosnetix | Greyson Newton ’21, Diana Salha ’25, Cameron Walker ’22
3rd Place TIE ($3,500) | AggieBus | Arvind Balaji ’24, Anish Karthik ’25, Kirthivel Ramesh ’24
3rd Place TIE ($3,500) | Redeemr | David Greek ’24, Carl White ’24

2023 Former Student Full Pitch:

1st Place ($7,500) | Endpoint Security Inc | Page Heller ’78
2nd Place ($5,000) | Xplosion Technology Corporation | Jaylen James ’22
3rd Place ($3,500 – sponsored by LiquidAgents Healthcare) | Empifany | Christopher Taylor ’07

2023 Elevator Pitch (sponsored by IndigoStone Advisors):

1st Place ($1,500) | Surgeon Support | Chase Lano ’25
2nd Place ($1,000) | EValuate EV Charging Software | Cassie McQuinn ’21
3rd Place ($750) | HemoVas Biosystems | Jason Eades ’26

2022 Current Student Full Pitch:

1st Place ($7,500) | Flux Works LLC | Bryton Praslicka ’24, Daniel Zamarron ‘22
2nd Place ($5,000) | Teale | Narendra Vishnumolakala ’22, Connor Ust ’22
3rd Place ($3,500) | Flow-Pax | Haley Clark ‘23

2022 Former Student Full Pitch:

1st Place ($7,500) | Wide Afternoon, LLC (Ovie) | Stacie Thompson ‘02
2nd Place ($5,000) | ClaraTech | Clara Orlean ‘20
3rd Place ($3,500) | SageSpectra | Madi Heck ’21, Mark Golla ‘22

2022 Elevator Pitch:

1st Place ($1,500) | South Texas Security Gates | Carson Neal ‘22
2nd Place ($1,000) | Imperium | Donald Bowen ‘25
3rd Place ($750) | Unravl Hair | Zanbria Asante ‘18

2021 Current Student Full Pitch:

1st Place | Phage Biosciences | Lila Ross ’20, ’21
2nd Place | AI-Ris | Uthej Vattipalli ’22
3rd Place | Olera, Inc. | Logan DuBose ’22

2021 Former Student Full Pitch:

1st Place | Datalogz | Logan Havern ’19
2nd Place | HelioWave Technologies LLC | Adrian Guzman ’08, ’12, ’19
3rd Place | Divergene | Paola Correa, PhD ’15

2021 Elevator Pitch:

1st Place | Real Rejuvenations LLC | R’riel Smith ’20
2nd Place | Lazarus | Ben Omonira ’20
3rd Place | Exosphere Fitness | Connor Pogue ’16, ’18

1^st, LCLIP, Ahad Azimuddin ‘20

2^nd, Zanbazan, Nargis Mougey ‘19

3^rd, PolyLabs, Shree Arunkumar ‘21, Jacob Good ‘20, Mohamed Harhash ‘20, Daniel Prasca-Chamorro ‘20, Whitney Souery ‘20

4^th, Lazarus, Elise Hackney ‘20, Ben Omonira ‘20, Seth Reine ‘20

5^th, SKYPaws LLC, Brianna Boyle ‘16, Stephanie Young ‘21

1^st, Bezoar Laboratories, Grace Tsai ‘16, Ryan Springer ‘18

2^nd, Botryonyx LLC, Daniel Browne ‘17

3^rd, SafeSpace Metal Detector Danial Kordi ‘18

4^th, Swing Sleeve Michael Batsell ‘17, Ian Cash ‘17, Andres Crucetta Nieto ‘18, Mozheng Hu, Sara Van Kalker ‘18

5^th, Teachr.com, Ram Panda ‘21, Jessica Skrobarczykca ‘18, Nathan Tupa ‘21, Anthony Vazhapilly ‘19