By Tim Ryan
The excitement was palpable last night at Zeiders American Dream Theater as the brightest minds in Virginia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem gathered for the Startup World Cup Regional Final. Hosted by Innovate Hampton Roads and the City of Virginia Beach, the event showcased ten of the most promising startups from across the state, each vying for a chance to represent Virginia on the global stage in San Francisco on October 4th.
Nearly 100 founders from across Virginia applied to pitch their innovative business ideas, but only ten made it to the final round. These ten startups embodied the future of technology, healthcare, entertainment, and beyond. From precision farming solutions by Agricision to groundbreaking drone technology from DroneUp, each finalist presented a compelling vision for the future.
The competition was fierce as each founder delivered a four-minute pitch to an audience filled with fellow founders, investors, and five secret judges. These judges, representing some of the most influential venture capital firms and innovation funds, were tasked with the difficult job of selecting a winner.
The judges included Himalaya Rao of The BFM Fund, Aurelia Flores of Virginia Venture Partners (VVP), Craig Snodgrass of Valor Ventures, Dustin Dunbar also of VVP, and Kate Byrne of The Tulle-Box. Their combined expertise in venture finance, startup scaling, and strategic leadership set the bar high for the competitors.
Guest speakers added further gravitas to the evening, with inspiring words from Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer, Pegasus Tech Ventures Investor Christian Moran, former Virginia Governor and US Senator George Allen, and President and CEO of Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) Joe Benevento. The event was emceed by the dynamic duo from the Fervent Four Show, Tim Ryan and Zack Miller, who kept the energy high and the audience engaged.
After much deliberation, the judges named ivWatch as the winner of the Virginia Startup World Cup Regional Final. ivWatch, a leader in healthcare innovation, has developed state-of-the-art patient monitoring devices that significantly enhance the safety and accuracy of IV therapy. Their win was a testament to the life-changing impact of their technology and their potential for global influence.
As the evening drew to a close, ivWatch’s victory was celebrated by all, marking a pivotal moment in their journey. They now advance to the global finals in San Francisco, where they will compete against the best startups from around the world for a $1 million investment prize.
The Startup World Cup Regional Final was a shining example of Virginia’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, and ivWatch’s success serves as an inspiration to entrepreneurs across the state. As they prepare to take the global stage, Virginia will be cheering them on, proud of the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that brought them this far.
