The three companies moving on to the championship:
Compass and Code Collective LLC, operating as Compass & Code Hospitality and led by Tia Hatcher, is a performance-driven RV asset management company that turns underutilized RVs into income-producing short-term rental assets. Revenue comes from occupied nights and high-margin add-on systems, using trained operators and standardized processes. Cash flow is then reinvested into long-term real estate assets, creating a scalable pathway from short-term income to long-term wealth.
Industrial Native LLC’s Flowtally, led by Brian Kelly, uses fixed commodity cameras at receiving and shipping docks to read pallet and unit-load labels as material freight crosses the dock doors. Each read gets a decoded label, a timestamped photo, and is checked against the manifest, so mismatches surface while the trailer is at the door during unload, not three weeks later. It is built for manufacturers and warehouses that rely on handheld scanners, paper, and memory to settle disputes about what arrived and track material movements. It provides an evidence-based source ledger while automating the receiving process and integrates with existing warehouse management systems and enterprise resource planning tools.
Ongati, led by Brian Ongati, addresses the fact that small service businesses like barbers, salons, and clinics still take most appointments by text and DMs, which costs them time and missed bookings. Ongati gives every service business a free professional page where customers can find them and book in a few taps. Businesses can add booking to their own website, sync with Google or Outlook calendars, and collect reviews after each visit. The beta has been live since August 2026 with 23 businesses testing it on free accounts. The company earns from flat monthly plans, with no commission on bookings.
The other seven companies that pitched:
CARE AiLLY, led by William Hill, is a digital healthcare companion designed specifically for minority women in the United States, who face disproportionate healthcare disparities often rooted in systemic bias, lack of access, and communication barriers during medical visits. By leveraging AI, Care AILLY serves as a culturally competent advocate. It facilitates continuous, natural voice conversations—not just text—allowing users to speak freely about their health. It listens to doctor-patient interactions to transcribe medical advice, prompts users with critical questions, and connects them with culturally aligned healthcare providers via Google Maps.
Found Family Home Health Care, led by Christina Hollowell, provides non-medical home care.
Grow Pros LLC, led by Christopher Richardson, makes growing fresh food at home simple by designing, building, and installing premium, ready-to-grow garden systems for homeowners who want a garden but may lack the time, knowledge, tools, or confidence to build one themselves. Standardized Starter, Family, and Homestead packages combine durable cedar garden products, irrigation, soil preparation, companion planting, and carefully planned crop selections into one professionally installed system. Customers can choose a package that fits their space and goals, and Grow Pros handles the process from installation through planting so their garden is ready to grow from day one. The long-term vision is to build Grow Pros into a recognizable garden-products and installation brand that makes home food production more accessible, attractive, and achievable.
Lotus Love Digital Solutions, led by Mia Wang, makes AI usable for small business owners who can’t afford to hire a project manager or AI specialist. The work is organized in three steps: AI training courses live on Eventbrite, hands-on consulting that implements AI and PM systems clients actually use, and an AI agent currently in development that gives small businesses PM-level execution without the headcount. The founder brings over a decade of AI research and PMP/AI-PM project management credentials to bridge the technical and practical sides of that gap. The long-term vision is to turn that AI agent into the affordable, always-on alternative to hiring a specialist—making a capability that costs a salary today available for the price of a subscription.
MANLY, led by Denzel Murph, is an innovative automatic tissue dispenser designed specifically for men’s public restrooms, providing convenient access to tissue at urinals for improved hygiene and cleanliness. The dispenser is mounted above or near the urinal and allows users to quickly access a sheet of tissue when needed, while also providing a more sanitary way to interact with the urinal’s flush handle. MANLY addresses an overlooked restroom hygiene problem that affects millions of men in restaurants, stadiums, offices, entertainment venues, and other public facilities. The business model combines the sale or leasing of MANLY dispensers with recurring revenue opportunities through tissue refills and service.
Monument Forge Manufacturing LLC, led by Xavier Pettis, is a digital fabrication and manufacturing studio that produces custom plaques, memorials, industrial identification plates, and prototype components using CNC machining, engraving, and 3D printing. The business serves both community organizations that need recognition and historical markers and businesses that require asset tags, serial number plates, and prototype parts. By combining multiple fabrication technologies into a flexible small-batch manufacturing platform, Monument Forge provides customized solutions with faster turnaround and lower minimum orders than traditional suppliers. The goal is to build a modern fabrication resource that supports local organizations, small businesses, and makers across the Hampton Roads region.
Moonlit Moose, led by Carter Workman, designs inclusive board games with a purpose behind every play. The company believes moose-sized games can have a mighty impact, using the power of play to bring people together. Each game is intentionally designed for 5 to 8 players to encourage connection and shared experiences. One dollar from every game sold is donated to learning disability nonprofits, with each game supporting a different organization. Led by its moose mascot, Moonlit Moose is on a mission to make game night meaningful and build a world where all minds belong and succeed.
What this qualifier does
Start Peninsula runs four Micro Pitches each year. Three companies advance from each event. Micro Pitch 4 fills the final block of the 2026 championship field.
The championship pitch is November 11, 2026.
