​Save the date for the 10th annual Wolff New Venture Competition!

​The Wolff New Venture Competition features live pitches by the top startups coming out of UConn, and gives away over $150,000 in non-dilutive funding to the startups each year. This year's tenth anniversary event includes:

​Pitch Competition
Five startups will present a five-minute pitch to a panel of judges, who then decides which businesses are worthy of the $115,000+ in award funding.

​Keynote Speaker
Hear from renowned Steve Preda — business growth strategist, best-selling author, speaker, and coach — as he shares insights from his journey and the lessons he's learned along the way.

​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 + CCEI Startup Showcase

​6:00-7:30pm - Venture Pitch Competition

​7:30-8:00pm - Keynote + Awards

​8:00-9:00pm - Networking + CCEI Startup Showcase

​Pitch Competition Startups

​404 Inc.
404 Inc. is reinventing medical imaging with safe, plant-based contrast agents that eliminate toxic metals without compromising clarity. brightby404inc.com

​MLC Nutrition
MLC Nutrition is the first clinic that prescribes healthy meals and whole-person care to improve health outcomes and stay out of the hospital. mlcnutrition.health

​Orbit Crates
Orbit Crates is an AI-powered toy rental subscription company that helps parents reduce clutter, save money, and increase intentional, novel play by renting toys instead of owning them. orbitcrates.com

​SeaSol
SeaSol converts seaweed into a functional coating that makes food packaging compostable and high-performance at an affordable cost, using our proprietary one-step process. seaweedsol.com

​Varda 5
OBLS is Varda 5's simulation-based training program that prepares healthcare teams to respond effectively to maternal medical and delivery emergencies. obls.org

​Startup Showcase Participants

​Atlas, MOGSKi, Pagoda, Happy Dinosaur, WheelPrice, Soleia Biosciences, Growler Power, SedMed, Sourcery, Swipestorm, LamdaVision, Webquity, The Feel Good Lab, Diant Pharma, PatentPlus AI, Aleoop, STM Patch ... and more!

​Keynote Speaker

​Steve Preda
Business Growth Strategist, Author, Speaker, Coach

​Steve Preda is a seasoned entrepreneur and business strategist dedicated to helping leaders build companies that enable their ideal lives and create lasting impact. After building and selling an investment banking firm in his native Hungary, Steve moved to the U.S., where he coached Vistage CEO peer groups and later became an EOS Implementer and Pinnacle Business Guide.

​Today, he is the Founder of Summit OS® and Strategy OS®, scalable operating systems that help businesses grow from small enterprises to Inc. 5000 and Fortune-ranked companies. A bestselling author of four books and host of the Management Blueprint® podcast, Steve lives near Richmond, Virginia, where he enjoys jazz and tennis with his family.

​Judges

​Michelle Augustyn
Business Advisor, CTSBDC

​Brianna Barrett
Sustainable Investing Leader & Board Advisor

​David Bergman Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Faculty and Research, UConn School of Business

​Joe DeMartino
Board Member, Angel Investor Forum

​Rich Vogel
Founding Partner and CFO/COO, Loeb.nyc

​Awards

​Pitch Awards
- $30,000 and $5,000 in kind financial services, Wolff New Venture Prize
- $15,000 CCEI Second Place Prize
- $7,500 Prime Materials Recovery Third Place Prize
- $15,000 (pro bono services) wiggin(x) Legal Services Award
- $5,000 Mark and Jamie Summers Innovation Award
- $5,000 Baystate Financial Disruption Award
- $5,000 FML Audience Choice Award

​Showcase Awards
- $35,000 (pro-bono services) Revyrie Digital Experience Award
- $15,000 (pro bono services) Big Bang Product Development Award
- $5,000 (pro bono services) FML Accounting Services Award
- $5,000 (pro bono services) wiggin(x) Legal Showcase Award
- $5,000 (pro bono services) wiggin(x) Legal Showcase Award

​Sponsors

​Prize Awards:

​The Wolff Family | wiggin(x) | Sardilli Produce and Dairy Co. | Fiondella, Milone & LaSaracina LLP | Prime Materials Recovery Inc. | Revyrie | Big Bang | Baystate Financial | Webster Bank | Mark and Jamie Summers | Eric Marziali | Bob and Linda Delisle | Event Resources | Dick and Carol Stewart

​About the Wolff New Venture Competition:
The Wolff Prize is endowed through the Thomas John and Bette Wolff Family Fund in Strategic Entrepreneurship, established to provide leadership for teaching and research in the field of strategic entrepreneurship. The Wolff family has a long tradition of business success, personal philanthropy, commitment to the University of Connecticut, the UConn Business School, and the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. We are grateful for the support of Thomas John (1928-2008) and Bette and their three children Greg, Gary, and Debi.

​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