The NC State-affiliated Andrews Launch Accelerator (ALA) wrapped up the latest edition of its 12-week summer program on Tuesday evening. The 2026 cohort was comprised of 10 startups, all of which gave presentations to an invitation-only crowd of attendees from across the Triangle’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The ALA program is supported by the NC State Acceleration Fund, which in turn is the product of a $1 million donation from Lyn and Chip Andrews. Through that fund, the program allocates equity-free seed capital to each participating startup—while the accelerator guides founders through a series of modules designed to “steer companies in the right direction.”
Following introductory remarks from NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic Director Haley Huie and Poole College of Management Dean Frank Buckless, Chip Andrews highlighted numerous aspects of the skill-building agenda the aforementioned modules cover. These included product/market fit, team dynamics, early legal setup, marketing and brand recognition, workflow tools and systems, practical AI uses, and founder-led sales—just to name a few!
Program alum Annie Hoyt (founder of Deni) then took center stage to emcee the Demo Day pitches. Each founder (or team of founders) was given four minutes to present.
Here’s a look at the ALA 2026 cohort startups attendees saw in action on Tuesday evening:
Climbit has built a platform designed to give outdoor climbers (and eventually other outdoor athletes) accurate, up-to-date, and even personalized information about conditions. The idea is to take the guesswork out of planned expeditions, and the team is already seeing evidence that users are returning (3x/month) and using the platform to plan excursions (with many comparing different climbing spots through the platform).
(See past coverage by GrepBeat here.)
ThermaTech is pitching a straightforward benefit of finding HVAC failures before they occur. (Editor’s note: Basically, it’s the Minority Report of HVAC.) While they acknowledge that increasingly popular “smart” thermostats can help with efficiency, these devices have limited insight when it comes to the health of mechanical units. ThermaTech can retrofit its products onto existing indoor and outdoor systems to monitor and send alerts concerning inefficiencies or impending failures.
SPRTN Technologies aims to solve a problem that has plagued athletes for decades: namely, that there is no such thing as a perfect earbud or headphone or workouts. Their solution is a product that solves for range (Bluetooth connection up to one mile), moisture (they work underwater and in contact with sweat), and fit (with a “lock-in” design that will “never fall out”). Just for good measure, they’re also equipped with AI coaching for swimmers and other athletes.
(See past coverage by GrepBeat here.)
ChampOS presented a product called Relay, which is a multi-faceted AI system designed to make restaurant ordering processes feel more natural and efficient. The system is built around voice capture that enables servers to have ordinary conversations with diners such that orders are automatically captured and “relayed” to the restaurant’s POS system.
(See past coverage by GrepBeat here.)
Tin’s Pins was started to solve for the fact that while women spend on collegiate apparel and accessories, much of the official merchandise is marketed toward men—leading women to turn to third-party sellers, who in turn come with unlicensed products, longer shipping windows, and other complications. The Tin’s Pins alternatives are “trend-responsive” accessories meant to appeal to all fans with authentic and creative designs.
Verdia Diagnostics is attempting to improve the processes by which plant disease is spotted and addressed. Often, as things stand, this process still depends on manual observation (which is often too late). The solution is scent-based. The startup’s sensors can effectively “smell” potential disease, recognize what it smells via AI, and send action-oriented alerts. The team estimates they can reduce greenhouse crop losses by 50%.
Lainey Volz is pitching a button-up shirt, dubbed the “Button Cup,” that is designed specifically “for women with a D-cup and up.” Beyond this flagship product, the startup is establishing a brand revolving around a combination of innovative techniques, inclusive garments, and bright, fun designs.
Sylva Systems is aiming to do its part in the Battle for the Amazon (the place, not the company). Working closely with an Amazon-based organization, the team is building mechatronics solutions in the form of autonomous, long-ranged unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can handle the harsh conditions of the region while addressing assorted conservation challenges.
DentalHold addresses a concern most of us, as dental patients, probably haven’t given a great deal of thought to: the amount of time and effort expended by front-desk workers verifying insurance information. As a solution, this team uses AI voice agents to handle verification in a more direct and comprehensive manner than what is typical—effectively automating what has been an inefficient process in dental offices.
Forest Found creates products that bring about “trusted trail relief for bites and stings.” Using plant-based ingredients sourced locally in North Carolina, the startup has designed fast-acting and long-lasting relief while mitigating concerns that some users have with chemical-based alternatives. Early traction for Forest Found products has indicated that they’re quick to establish brand loyalty with users.
Once all 10 cohort startups had presented, there were some brief closing remarks before a special appearance by CN-Seamless. This Raleigh-based startup was part of the ALA’s 2024 cohort (as well as a GrepBeat “Startups to Watch” honoree the following fall). Co-Founder Sam Marcom was on hand essentially as a positive example of the impact the accelerator can have. Notably, he was one of many former ALA founders who were in attendance Tuesday night.
Below are some photos from ALA Demo Day 2026
