Start Peninsula’s final Micro Pitch of 2025 brought together ten promising companies from across Hampton Roads, each pitching innovative ideas designed to make life better, smarter, and more connected. From AI and robotics to wellness, education, and local craftsmanship, these founders showcased the creativity and ambition that continue to define the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
And the winners are… Where2Wheel, HUNNiE, and MechaStructure! These three companies will advance to the Start Peninsula Grand Finale on November 12, where the top three winners will each receive $5,000 to support their ventures.
Below are the ten startups that took the virtual stage (in alphabetical order):
Birds Nest Therapy, LLC
Birds Nest Therapy provides in-person and virtual mental health services for clients ages six and up, addressing a wide range of needs from anxiety and trauma to grief and ADHD. What makes Birds Nest unique is its authenticity and community-driven approach. Founded on lived experience, Birds Nest creates content featuring real members of its community and offers reduced-rate workshops to expand access to mental wellness resources. The mission is clear—empower individuals to find their voices, share their stories, and begin healing.
Duct
Duct allows AI Ops teams to instantly deploy custom functions and MCP tools without waiting on DevOps—bringing frictionless infrastructure to a fast-growing industry. With Duct, engineers can write, deploy, and test code directly in a browser in seconds, accelerating productivity and removing a key bottleneck in automation workflows.
Harrison Bertolo
Entrepreneurship meets education with Harrison Bertolo’s work—offering tools and experiences that help aspiring founders learn by doing. The Ideare app provides entrepreneurship courses and community connections, while the Ventale video game lets users simulate running a business in a risk-free environment. Together, they’re creating a pipeline for innovation and empowerment in underserved communities.
HUNNiE
HUNNiE is an AI-driven language learning app paired with a companion journal that personalizes lessons to each user’s learning style. Designed to help learners speak and write confidently, HUNNiE merges technology with creativity to make language acquisition more personal, engaging, and effective.
LightWork Equitable Solutions
LightWork partners with schools, nonprofits, and businesses to create more equitable and productive environments. Through data-driven assessments, professional development, and cultural alignment, LightWork helps organizations build sustainable systems of inclusion where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to succeed.
MechaStructure
MechaStructure is a robotic-structural system designed to enable massive structures to be built and operated entirely by robots. Originally developed for space applications, the technology now extends to terrestrial construction, supporting operations in remote or harsh environments where human presence is limited. It’s a bold step toward the future of autonomous infrastructure.
More Laughing Arts & Media (MLAM)
MLAM’s new youth media and performing arts program on the Peninsula gives students hands-on experience in broadcasting, journalism, and performance. Participants create PSAs, cover events, and perform live—all while developing leadership and storytelling skills. By connecting young creators across Hampton Roads, MLAM is building confidence and community through creativity.
Strella
Strella is a next-generation conversational AI platform built to simplify life by automating everyday tasks. Unlike traditional assistants, Strella uses specialized agents that collaborate dynamically and remember context—handling scheduling, email, content creation, and business workflows. Its cosmic-inspired identity reflects a mission to expand human potential by freeing people’s time for what truly matters.
The King’s Guard LLC
The King’s Guard creates high-quality, color 3D-printed models of signature collegiate buildings, sold both direct-to-consumer and through campus bookstores. Inspired by founder Harrison Bertolo’s pride in the Wren Building at William & Mary, the company taps into alumni nostalgia and school spirit with elegant, collectible replicas. From UVA’s Rotunda to UNC’s Old Well, The King’s Guard offers beautifully crafted keepsakes that let graduates and fans celebrate their alma maters in style.
Where2Wheel
Where2Wheel is building the “Airbnb of Offroading,” connecting off-road enthusiasts with rural landowners to open new trails and expand access to outdoor recreation. As off-road locations shrink due to urban sprawl, Where2Wheel fills the gap with a marketplace that’s already hosted over 250 bookings, served more than 3,000 customers, and surpassed $100K in GMV. With live sites in Hampton Roads, North Carolina, and across Virginia, the company is gearing up for expansion along the East Coast.
Judges (in alphabetical order)
