The Wolff New Venture Competition
Join us at the 11th annual Wolff New Venture Competition!
The 11th annual Wolff New Venture Competition, hosted by UConn's Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, features live pitches by the top startups coming out of the university, and gives away over $150,000 in non-dilutive funding to the startups each year. This year's event will include:
Pitch Competition
Five startups will present a seven minute pitch to a panel of judges, who then decides which businesses are worthy of the $150,000+ in award funding.
Startup Showcase
30+ UConn startups will showcase their companies. Guests can learn about what they're building and purchase their products.
Event Schedule
5:00-6:00pm | Networking + Startup Showcase
6:00-7:30pm | Venture Pitch Competition
7:30-8:00pm | Awards
8:00-9:00pm | Networking + Startup Showcase
Pitch Competition Startups
AccessFlora
A sustainable aquaculture company with a proprietary aquafeed for raising oysters in purified water. While current oyster supply is limited by coastal access and unpredictable ocean conditions, we are removing uncertainty and bringing fresh oysters wherever there's demand.
Keegan Jalbert
Mingyu Qiao Ph.D.
Vitoria Lunardi de Castro
Babsy
A children's oral healthcare company. Our customizable kids’ toothbrush, Build-A-Brush, lets children personalize their brushing experience — turning a daily routine into something fun, creative, and exciting. By putting the power in kids’ hands, Babsy hopes to build healthier brushing habits that last a lifetime.
Dante Paolino D.M.D.
Marissa Gelber
Maria Pereira
Zachary Gelber D.D.S.
ChromaShield
A medical device startup advancing accessible, proactive care. Our flagship product is a smart wearable patch that detects and monitors early signs of skin inflammation and complications during radiation therapy, bridging the gap between at-home monitoring and clinical care.
Suma Dendi
Charli Hughes
Neha Shanavas
SEAWELL
A premium, non-alcoholic sparkling beverage optimized for the coastal boating lifestyle. We deliver functional hydration with electrolytes from real coconut water and 20%+ real juice at 35 calories with no added sugar.
Lindsay Smith
William "Bill" Smith
EVA
A smart sensing pad that turns menstrual fluid into real-time reproductive health insights, helping women understand changes in their bodies and identify potential health risks earlier.
Xingyu Wang Ph.D.
Baikun Li Ph.D.
Yu Lei Ph.D.
Startup Showcase Participants
AccessFlora | Babsy | ChromaShield | Elyton | SEAWELL | EVA | Varda 5 | SeaSolTec | MOGSki | Happy Dinosaur | Atlas | Zemi | Diant Pharma | Sourcery | Levo International | onewith | Phoenix Tailings | InfinityPay | WashDog | Organize Your Thoughts
Judges
Andrew Cleary
Managing Partner, Baystate Financial
Zachary Cohen '09 (BUS)
CFO, The Junkluggers
Rob Hughes '92 (CLAS)
Founder + President, Republic Systems Inc.
Ashley Kalinauskas '12 (CAHNR)
CEO + Co-Founder, Torigen
Christine Sullivan
Business Consultant, Connecticut SBDC
Eric Turkington
CPO, Rain Stella Technologies
Awards
Pitch Awards
The Wolff 1st Place Prize
$40,000 and $5,000 in services at Wolff Financial
CCEI 2nd Place Prize
$15,000
Prime Materials Recovery 3rd Place Prize
$7,500
wiggin(x) Legal Services Award
$15,000 in services
FML Audience Choice Award
$5,000
Mark + Jamie Summers Innovation Award
$5,000
Baystate Financial Impact Award
$5,000
Showcase Awards
Big Bang Technical Advisory Services Award
$20,000 in services
wiggin(x) Legal Services Award
$5,000 in services
wiggin(x) Legal Services Award
$5,000 in services
FML Accounting Services Award
$5,000 in services
CCEI Business Advancement Award
$2,000 in cash
CCEI Business Advancement Award
$2,000 in cash
CCEI Business Advancement Award
$2,000 in cash
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Sardilli Dairy and Produce Co.
Gold Sponsors
Bob + Linda Delisle
Silver Sponsors
Webster Bank
Eric Marziali
Dick + Carol Stewart
Putnam Plastics
Bronze Sponsors
Event Resources Inc.
About the Wolff New Venture Competition:
The Wolff Prize is made possible through the generosity of the Wolff Family and their longstanding commitment to UConn, the School of Business, and the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. That commitment began with Thomas John Wolff (1928–2008) and Bette Wolff (1929–2026), whose belief in entrepreneurship and education established a lasting legacy at UConn. Today, their children, Greg Wolff, Gary Wolff, and Deb Davis, and grandchildren, Keith Wolff and Kristina Singh, remain actively involved in supporting the Prize and creating opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
About the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI):
At CCEI, we aim to empower entrepreneurs and innovators, create a vibrant startup ecosystem, and contribute to economic development in Connecticut. We strive to provide the necessary resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses and make a positive impact on society. To learn more, visit ccei.uconn.edu.