Start Peninsula Announces Winners of First 2025 Micro Pitch
March 27, 2025 – Start Peninsula has kicked off its 2025 season with an exciting Micro Pitch event, spotlighting some of the most promising startups in Hampton Roads. After a competitive night of pitches, three innovative businesses emerged as winners, securing a chance to compete for $5,000 in funding at the Championship Pitch on November 5th.
The winners of the first Micro Pitch of 2025 are:
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Hypercube Motors Corporation (Jacquelin Akers)
Hypercube Motors has designed Nyla, a teleoperated robotic nurse that assists with non-critical tasks, increasing nurses’ availability for direct patient care, assessment, and reassessment. Nyla features a swappable battery to ensure round-the-clock operation and aims to revolutionize efficiency in healthcare settings. - Life Light (Frank King)
Life Light is an AI-powered lighting device and system that detects and communicates harmful chemical fingerprints in the environment, providing users with real-time safety insights.
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TRO Energy Solutions, Inc. (Edward DeVries)
TRO Energy Solutions empowers 250,000 military families across 183 military installations by providing reliable access to electric vehicle charging in homes they do not own and only inhabit for an average of three years. Their turnkey solution features an intuitive user interface, predicting cultural shifts and designing a future of sustainable infrastructure.
These innovators captivated the judges with groundbreaking solutions tackling key challenges in energy, healthcare, and environmental safety.
Distinguished Judges Panel The event featured an esteemed panel of judges, each bringing their unique expertise in entrepreneurship, investment, and economic development:
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Himalaya Rao-Potlapall – Co-founder of the BFM Fund, with extensive experience launching and managing investment funds like the Angel Oregon Fund and Mid-Valley Angel Fund.
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Chris Davidson – Founder of Orca Strategies LLC, a consultancy specializing in growth initiatives for companies, nonprofits, and communities. A long-time supporter of the Hampton Roads startup ecosystem, Chris previously emceed Start Peninsula for six years.
- Henry Cobb – Representative from the City of Virginia Beach Economic Development office and a key figure at The Hive.
The Road to the Championship Pitch This Micro Pitch is just the beginning. The winners will now advance to the Championship Pitch on November 5th, where they will compete for $5,000 in funding and gain access to invaluable local resources to accelerate their business growth.
About Start Peninsula Hosted by Hampton in partnership with the Cities of Newport News, Williamsburg, Poquoson, and the counties of James City and York, Start Peninsula has been a cornerstone of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region since 2012. The platform provides startups with mentorship, exposure, and funding opportunities to support their growth.
For more information about Start Peninsula or to apply for upcoming pitch events, visit https:/
