A Night To Remember: StarTUp Accelerator Fellows Wow The Crowd

After eight weeks of founder-centric programming, and six weeks of intensive prep, the founders of the 2024 StarTUp Accelerator were ready to highlight their ventures at the annual StarTUp Accelerator Showcase. The founders were ready to show the TU community what they learned, the progression of their ventures, and what’s next. Over 200 people joined the founders as they tabled, pitched, and networked throughout the night.

To kick off the night, each venture had the opportunity to table and connect with business, community, and higher education leaders, and showcase their products, talk about their ideas, and make long-term connections. From innovative drywall materials to reinvented duvet bedding to devices that will improve your jumps hot, there was no shortage of industry breaking ideas.

*Community members meet with founders during the Founder Meet & Greet*

*JJ Innovative materials is reinventing construction materials to be carbon negative, stronger, and less costly*

*TU Director of Entrepreneurship Patrick McQuown welcomes the crowd to the 2024 StarTUp Acclerator Showcase*

*TU President Mark R. Ginsberg speaks to the crowd at the 2024 StarTUp Acclerator Showcase*

The pitch portion of the event started off with an electrifying introduction from TU Director of Entrepreneurship Patrick McQuown, and remarks from President Mark R. Ginsberg. A spotlight presentation highlighted the inception of AEAIS, a social venture solving athlete transition with a scalable and empirical solution.

*Member of the AEAIS team introduces board members*

Video featuring Antidote, CERTIFIED BLLR, Hotlines Sports, JJ Innovative Materials, and LIMs-Plus highlighted their missions and what the founders learned from one another during the eight week accelerator.

Revvl took to the stage and lit up the crowd. Their venture, which rebels against mundane mocktails with boldly crafted zero proof cocktails, is a whole mood and is changing the way people think about mocktails.

*Sisters Lexx and Lacie, founders of Revvl, pitch their product*

Next jbrds took the stage. Jbrds is revolutionizing children’s shoes by molding them to the natural structure of the foot, preventing discomfort and allowing for better form. Somnair took the stage to tackle sleep apnea. Somnair wowed the crowd with their non-invasive neurostimulation device and solution for sleep apnea.

*Mike Gugat, co-founder of jbrds, is reinventing children’s shoes*

*Mitchell Turley and Dr. Anders Sideris, co-founders of Somnair, were sponsored by MedStar Health*

The founders of MIVA, NORAD, TANTV, and Truuce highlighted their ventures in another video played to the large crowd gathered at the StarTUp at the Armory.

To close out the pitch presentations, Advanced Sports AI and Zenjoy took to the stage. Advanced Sports AI is helping sports lovers predict NFL game outcomes and individual player value. Zenjoy is helping people take a deep breath with their ice teas designed to help consumers relax.