2025 Semifinalists

Amanix

A girl in exile puts on a headset, and seconds later, she’s attending a real university class in New York, London, or Istanbul. This is Amanix: a mixed reality solution that turns physical classrooms into globally inclusive spaces using custom MR headsets, 360° cameras, spatial audio systems, and live holographic projection. Students appear as full-scale avatars, interact in real time, and earn accredited degrees, without crossing borders and as if they were physically present in the class. Our B2B2C model equips universities with both the hardware and seamless software integration, eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades. With a global EdTech market surpassing $300B, and demand rising in war-affected, refugee, and underserved communities, Amanix is both a profitable opportunity and a moral imperative. We don’t replace education; we restore it. And we’re not building the future; we’re delivering it, one headset at a time.

Barty AI

Barty revolutionizes technical hiring by conducting comprehensive AI-powered interviews for every candidate, eliminating the drawbacks of traditional ATS keyword filtering. Our platform features Bart, an intelligent interview agent that adapts to specific roles, industries, and company needs through advanced contextual understanding.

Unlike competitors, Barty evaluates all applicants through customizable interview formats including technical assessments, behavioral evaluations, and screening conversations. Our solution offers hiring teams natural language candidate discovery, bias mitigation, and detailed performance analytics.

The platform supports real-time coding evaluations, portfolio assessment, and predictive success metrics while maintaining complete candidate records rather than automatic rejections. Built on a scalable, multi-tenant architecture using Next.js, WebRTC, and Supabase, Barty can handle 1000+ concurrent interviews while delivering seamless experiences for both candidates and hiring teams.

Drone Certifly

Drone Certifly is a startup revolutionizing drone pilot training by integrating an advanced Drone Pilot Management System (DPMS) that bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world operational proficiency. This innovative training platform addresses the critical safety and compliance issues plaguing the drone industry, while also offering significant cost savings and enhanced pilot performance. 

Key Features & Value Proposition

Comprehensive Training Curriculum: DPMS delivers a 12-module course covering all FAA Part 107 topics—including 1,657 essential facts—through interactive content such as concept maps, video lectures, flashcards, quizzes, and hands-on simulation exercises. This ensures that pilots gain not only the regulatory knowledge but also practical skills required for safe drone operations. 

Simulation-Based Learning: Using advanced simulation scenarios like bridge inspection exercises, the system provides risk-free, real-world training that significantly enhances operational proficiency. Simulation data indicate that a 30% improvement in pilot proficiency can reduce violation costs substantially—lowering property damage incidents, injuries, and even fatalities.

Robust Business Model: Drone Certifly operates on a subscription model—charging an initial $500 per pilot for the first year and $200 annually thereafter. With a projected break-even point of just 1.3 years and a 300% ROI over five years, the financial outlook is compelling. This model, coupled with industry demand (650,000+ drone-related jobs and a commercial market valued at USD 30.02 billion in 2024 with a 10.6% CAGR), positions Drone Certifly for rapid market penetration. 

Stakeholder-Centric Design: DPMS’ design is rooted in comprehensive stakeholder analysis, addressing the needs and tensions among enterprise owners, drone operators, training organizations, regulators, and even end customers. By reducing fines (which can reach up to $75,000 per violation) and mitigating costly incidents, the platform delivers clear value across the drone ecosystem.

Qhaven

Modern companies handle secret and top-secret data under strict compliance (CMMC, FedRamp, etc.) and meanwhile, quantum computing research is accelerating. These technologies pose a significant threat to modern cryptographical measures, rendering our current data security worthless in the face of quantum computers. While there is a significant time frame between now and the era when quantum computers will be highly functional, Qhaven meets this challenge with an AI-copilot and software scanner environment fully integrated with quantumsafe cryptography. Our approach helps contractors effortlessly meet CMMC, NIST, and FedRAMP mandates while also protecting themselves from future security risks.

The Allocated at Delia’s House

The Allocated at Delia’s House (TADH) is a faith-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to providing essential resources and support to individuals and families in need. Founded with a deep-rooted commitment to service, TADH operates through community outreach initiatives, donation drives, and relief programs to uplift underserved populations. Since its inception, TADH has made a significant impact by distributing thousands of pounds of food and clothing, hosting community events, and fostering meaningful connections with those in need. The organization also collaborates with local businesses, sponsors, and volunteers to sustain and expand its mission. Looking ahead, TADH is focused on strengthening its infrastructure, increasing community engagement, and expanding its relief efforts. With a structured leadership approach and growing media presence, the organization is positioning itself for sustainable growth, ensuring continued support for the community while fostering a culture of generosity and service.

Amma’s Kala (A Mother’s Dream)

Amma’s Kala is a nonprofit, self-sustaining community hub designed to combat loneliness and inactivity among Indian retirees. With India’s senior population expected to reach 350 million by 2050, there is a growing need for engaging and purposeful environments beyond traditional elder care. Unlike passive senior living facilities, Amma’s Kala offers a dynamic space where seniors can lead workshops, engage in fitness and wellness programs, and learn new skills like finance, technology, and the arts. Our goal is to empower seniors to stay physically active, mentally stimulated, and socially connected while fostering a sense of purpose and independence. 

Through a membership-based model and international marketplace, we provide seniors with opportunities to earn income through skill-sharing and handcrafted goods. Our nonprofit will also leverage U.S. donations and investments for sustainable funding, ensuring long-term financial stability. With our pilot location in Visakhapatnam, we plan to scale across India and beyond, revolutionizing how aging is perceived and creating a global movement for senior empowerment

CarbonSecure

CarbonSecure is a decision support platform changing the way sustainability officers select carbon offsets. In a market plagued by uncertainty, low transparency, and high reputational risk, CarbonSecure empowers users to make informed, confident decisions aligned with their organization’s climate goals. 

CarbonSecure assesses the risk and quality of carbon offset projects using a standardized evaluation framework and provides optimized purchasing recommendations based on the organization’s risk tolerance. We serve sustainability officers at universities and small businesses—segments eager to meet climate pledges but constrained by time and resources. 

By reducing vetting time up to 62%, CarbonSecure streamlines the path to climate action while prioritizing climate impact. Join us in building a carbon-neutral future—CarbonSecure: offset wisely, impact globally.

SonarADM

For billions of visually impaired individuals, the word “movie” sounds far and inaccessible. Our venture produces Audio Description Movies (ADM) designed to make films accessible to visually impaired audiences. SonarADM addresses this by creating movies that integrate AI-generated descriptions and voice-overs, enabling audiences to “watch” movies using their ears. This not only provides an equal cinematic experience but also fosters greater social inclusion by enabling visually impaired individuals to fully engage with film and broader cultural activities. 

The process behind AADM is a hybrid of advanced technology and human expertise. Initially, generative AI produces drafts of audio descriptions by analyzing visual content—such as scenes, character expressions, and actions—to create a preliminary narrative. These drafts are then refined by human reviewers, many of whom are visually impaired themselves, ensuring that the descriptions are easy to understand by the audience with visual impairment, accurate, and emotionally nuanced.

Our customers include businesses, educators, and entertainment companies, we provide high-quality audio descriptions for various content, including movies, videos, and e-learning materials. Revenue will be generated through subscription plans, pay-per-use options, and enterprise solutions tailored to the needs of larger organizations. This model is validated through competitor analysis, surveys, and local audio description creators.

Circlez 

Circlez is a project management software tailored for manufacturing teams, designed to boost productivity, align teams, and streamline operations through goal-setting, task management, and real-time insights. Circlez targets small to mid-sized manufacturing companies with 25–500 employees and limited automation. Our initial traction is in the automotive sector, but the platform is built to scale across industries like aerospace, consumer goods, and heavy machinery. Circlez offers a unified solution to enhance efficiency and drive measurable results on the factory floor.

NOVAFoam 

Synthetic lumber can be produced from recycled materials and exhibits properties of impermeability, anti-bacterial resistance, and low weight. NOVAFoam is a synthetic lumber made from recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS). It is impermeable, anti-bacterial, and weighs 30% less than traditional hardwood. NOVAFoam was previously manufactured in Italy until production ceased. Over 30 customer interviews identified impermeability, anti-bacterial resistance, and low weight as differentiators. A target market is temporary shelters for disaster response, including housing, food storage, and healthcare. These applications benefit from NOVAFoam’s mold resistance, insulation, and reduced transport weight. The preferred structure is a hexayurt, a widely used six-sided, easy-to-build shelter. Production involves five stages: collecting, cleaning, grinding, extruding, and packaging EPS. Recycled EPS is sourced from industrial and consumer streams, then processed and formed into NOVAFoam boards. Boards are packaged and prepared for shipment to deployment sites or storage. A stochastic simulation explored layouts, constraints, reliability, and supply volatility. Using real-world parameters, the model produced outputs like costs, machine utilization, storage capacity, and throughput under various configurations. The simulation helps identify capacity limitations, evaluate scalability, and optimize resources to meet urgent disaster response needs while maintaining manufacturing efficiency and minimizing waste in the production process.

TutorLink Consulting 

TutorLink Consulting was inspired by a dedicated tutor who built lasting bonds with students from childhood through college. Her story highlighted the power of trust, consistency, and personal connection in guiding clients over the years. We realized that genuine relationships could reduce client churn and drive growth. However, current platforms often restrict tutor freedom, limiting their ability to build these connections. TutorLink was founded to give tutors the autonomy to build lasting client relationships and grow on their terms. Our systems support this vision. Marketing begins Q2 2025.

Valor 

Valor is a B2B online counseling platform designed specifically for veterans in the workforce, connecting them with trained veteran mentors who understand their unique challenges. By partnering with companies to offer Valor as an employee benefit, we remove financial and privacy barriers, ensuring veterans receive confidential, specialized mental health support to ease not just their transition into civilian life, but any other challenges life may bring.

EchoPods 

EchoPods was born from a pressing problem—traditional earbuds block the ear canal, causing discomfort, hearing damage, and hygiene issues, yet millions of people wear them daily. Whether it’s fitness enthusiasts, commuters, professionals, social media users, or those who use earbuds for long hours, many struggle with ear pain, infections, and lack of awareness of their surroundings. 

Determined to create a better alternative, we designed EchoPods—a non-intrusive, open-ear audio device that rests in the Cymba Concha rather than blocking the ear canal. This design ensures all-day comfort, hearing safety, and situational awareness while delivering high-quality sound. 

Currently, we are developing the first fully optimized prototype. Our next steps involve manufacturing, securing funding, and partnerships to bring EchoPods to market. We aim to redefine personal audio and offer everyone a healthier, more natural listening experience.

Myokinetics LLC

Myokinetics believes the future lies in significantly reducing re-injury rates by improving rehabilitation outcomes, reducing health care costs, and strengthening the workforce in sports and military settings. Current rehabilitation methods rely on subjective assessments, missing out subtle neuromuscular deficits, contributing to high rates of General Entrepreneurship Track - Current Graduate and Alumni (continued on next page...) General Entrepreneurship Track - Current Undergraduate (cont.) 2025 Patriot Pitch Competition Meet the Semifinalists 2025 Patriot Pitch Competition Meet the Semifinalists 6 re-injury and long-term complications. The proposed SonoTrak wearable ultrasound platform is the first step toward Myokinetics’ broader vision of data driven personalized rehabilitation with transformative innovations in the wearable device market. A dollar of injured talent is a dollar of productivity lost. SonoTrak platform has the potential to (1) enhance economic efficiency through personalized, data-driven rehabilitation ensuring efficient use of clinical resources, (2) advance public health by lowering re-injury rates and guiding safer return-to-play decisions, and (3) Broaden participation by equipping a wide range of rehabilitation personnel with wearable ultrasound imaging tools that provide access to unique data points, currently unavailable in the marketplace.

Isovist Traverse Biosciences 

Isovist Traverse Biosciences is a patent pending non-genetically modified form of long-acting insulin. Insulin plays a tremendous role in the pathologies of many diseases. Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds with antioxidant properties that have been reported to play an important role in modulating inflammation as free-radical scavengers. Isovist Traverse Biosciences combines previous formulations containing small phenolic compounds known to bind and stabilize insulin protein structure with polyphenolic compounds, which further stabilize insulin protein structure by binding to a previously unknown binding pocket.

Viralbite 

Viralbite is the first scalable, word-of-mouth referral engine for restaurants. We’ve revolutionized the way restaurants grow through performance-based influencer marketing–risk-free, trackable, and results driven. Unlike traditional marketing campaigns where restaurants have no guaranteed return on their dollar spent—Viralbite gives restaurants instant exposure to thousands by only rewarding influencers based on real engagement they generate. 

We’re unlocking synergy between the $24B influencer marketing industry and the $1.1T restaurant market. Viralbite makes the most powerful form of marketing—organic word-of-mouth—finally measurable and scalable. And it’s never been done like this before.