There’s a stage before traction.

Before funding rounds, before headlines, before anyone outside a small circle knows what you’re building.

That’s where Start Peninsula operates.

Micro Pitch 2 wasn’t about polished companies. It was about clarity under pressure, founders stepping up to explain what they’re building, why it matters, and whether it holds up when people start asking questions.

That’s the real test.

And three companies stood out.

DomiSource, led by Karen Watts, is focused on a moment most people overlook, moving. It’s chaotic, fragmented, and full of valuable data that usually disappears. DomiSource captures that moment and turns it into something structured, a portable, trusted record of a home that can be used across insurers, lenders, and service providers. It’s a simple idea with long-term implications.

Read more about DomiSource and how they’re turning every move into a powerful data moment here.

HerculE-Q, led by Hannah LaCon, is working on a much bigger infrastructure shift, how energy is delivered. Their wireless power technology is designed to remove dependence on traditional wiring and enable more flexible, scalable systems. Backed by NASA commercialization efforts, the company is pushing toward real-world validation of something that could fundamentally change how power moves.

Read more about HerculE-Q and how they’re rethinking energy delivery here.

SAF-T-SHUCK, led by Vernon McDaniel, took a different path. No complex systems, no deep tech, just a real problem that has existed for years. Oyster shucking injuries are common, and largely accepted. SAF-T-SHUCK challenges that with a redesigned knife that adds leverage, control, and protection without changing how the tool fundamentally works.

Each of these companies earned $500 and will move on to the championship pitch on November 11, 2026, where $5,000 is on the line.

But what makes Micro Pitch work isn’t just who wins.

It’s what happens in the room.

Founders like CARE AiLLY, building an AI-driven healthcare advocate for minority women. StewTech, designing compact electric vehicles for defense and field operations. Monument Forge Manufacturing, creating a modern fabrication model for custom and industrial work.

Others are building around access, experience, and community. Forever Clean by Humphrey Lee is simplifying residential cleaning with transparent pricing and certified providers. Moonlit Moose is using board games to create inclusive, shared experiences. Smart Moves is connecting movement with learning for children in a way that improves engagement and retention. TWR Café – The Writing Room is creating space for reflection, creativity, and personal growth.

Different categories.

Different approaches.

Same reality.

They are all early, and they are all moving.

The judges, Paula Short, Kali Luthra, and Michele King, had to evaluate not just what exists today, but what could exist next.

“It was amazing to be a part of these startups journeys and companies that are being built here,” said Luthra.

That line lands because it’s true.

Start Peninsula doesn’t showcase finished success.

It captures the moment right before it.

And after 14 years, that moment keeps showing up.

Not once in a while.

Consistently.

Across industries.

Across the region.

And increasingly, with real weight behind it.