With Grep-a-Palooza 2025 fast approaching (it takes place June 5th at the Durham Convention Center), pieces are falling into place for our expanded pitch competition.
This year’s conference will feature eight early-stage, North Carolina tech startups presenting across two sessions. Each session will feature three investor-judges, who—following each founder’s pitch—will provide questions and feedback in real time. YOU (provided you’re attending) will help to determine an “audience winner” for each session. And at the end of the day, the six total judges will deliberate and determine an overall grand prize winner—who will receive $5K (in cash, in a briefcase, naturally).
After combing through more than 60 applications from founders across the state, we’re now ready to announce the eight startups that will be pitching at Grep-a-Palooza 2025. Get to know them below, and grab your tickets to come out and see the pitches on June 5th.
Pitch Session #1
Investor-Judges:
Jan Davis (RTP Angel Fund), Tim McLoughlin (Cofounders Capital), Zakiya Alta-Lee (IDEA Fund Partners)
Competing Startups:
BuilderPad (Raleigh, NC)
BuilderPad is providing intuitive construction management software for home builders. Co-Founder Hill Dickerson will present. (See GrepBeat’s past coverage here.)
CounterForce Health (Durham, NC)
CounterForce Health is building AI agents that can help patients and physicians effectively fight back against health insurance claim denials. Co-Founder Neal K. Shah will present.
Path (Charlotte, NC)
Path is using AI-driven virtual tours and “always-on” conversational AI agents to streamline real estate processes for developers and home buyers alike. Co-Founder and CEO Nate Robert-Eze will present.
Troodie (Winston-Salem, NC)
Troodie provides a combination food and travel app that rewards content creators for the engagement they bring to restaurants and helps users log restaurants for future visits. Founder Taylor Davis will present.
Pitch Session #2
Investor-Judges:
Eva Doss (The Launch Place), Dave Neal (Duke Capital Partners), Abby Phillips (Wolfpack Investor Network)
Competing Startups:
FlightLine Software (Raleigh, NC)
FlightLine Software is modernizing general aviation management with a comprehensive operating system automating and streamlining scheduling, maintenance, training, and more. Founder and CEO Robin Crorie will present.
Focus Cubes (Durham, NC)
Focus Cubes uses a combination of adaptive AI, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy to identify stress indicators in employees and preempt burnout with micro-interventions. Founder and CEO Charith Wickrema will present. (See GrepBeat’s past coverage here.)
Nearby Nearby (Asheboro, NC)
Nearby Nearby is providing a platform making it easier for people in rural communities to find find local businesses, events, and parks, as well as access vital services when emergency strikes. Founder and CEO Rhonda Jean will present. (See GrepBeat’s past coverage here.)
Ver Coaching (Durham, NC)
Ver Coaching is using advanced vision training to help athletes process information, locate the ball, and make decisions more quickly. Founder Mike Halpert will present. (See GrepBeat’s past coverage here.)
Our sincerest thanks to all of the founders who submitted so many excellent applications, as well as to everyone who helped us put the word out. This was a very competitive process and we’re confident Grep-a-Palooza attendees are going to be treated to an equally competitive slate of pitches.
See you all on June 5th!
