{"id":15181,"date":"2026-05-19T09:17:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T13:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=15181"},"modified":"2026-05-19T09:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T13:18:12","slug":"thousands-awarded-to-student-entrepreneurial-projects-at-pitch-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/thousands-awarded-to-student-entrepreneurial-projects-at-pitch-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands awarded to student entrepreneurial projects at Pitch Night"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_15185\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15185\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-174-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15185 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-174-scaled-e1779195091681-1024x1002.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1002\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-174-scaled-e1779195091681-1024x1002.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-174-scaled-e1779195091681-300x293.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-174-scaled-e1779195091681-768x751.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-174-scaled-e1779195091681-1536x1503.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-174-scaled-e1779195091681-400x391.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-174-scaled-e1779195091681.jpg 1745w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15185\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The biggest winner of the night, team Turf Warrior earned $15,000 for its protective spray that reduces turn burn. (Photo by Justin Morris | VBCPS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15184\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15184\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-73-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-15184\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-73-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-73-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-73-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-73-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-73-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-73-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-73-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15184\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Photo by Justin Morris | VBCPS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Entrepreneurship and Business Academy (EBA) Pitch Night highlighted the innovation, collaboration, and business acumen of student entrepreneurs. During the high-energy evening at Kempsville High School, student teams presented their original business concepts to a panel of judges composed of industry professionals, community partners, and educators.<\/p>\n<p>Pitch Night serves as both a celebration and a competition. Run in the style of the popular \u201cShark Tank\u201d television show, judges provide targeted feedback and select top-performing teams \u2014 awarding funding to help students continue developing their ventures.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the competition, the event fosters connections between students and the local business community, reinforcing the academy\u2019s commitment to experiential learning and career readiness.<\/p>\n<p>The teams competing on stage and their award amounts were:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Turf Warrior<\/strong> \u2013 awarded $15,000 (the MOST EVER awarded to a single team!): Turf Warrior is a protective spray that reduces turf burn by limiting friction and shielding skin during games on turf. Student members: Joe Calandra, Sayla Kluch, Brayden Stroup, Owen Szykuc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Better Boost<\/strong> &#8211; awarded $7,000: Better Boost is a fast-acting caffeinated gum engineered for athletes, delivering quicker absorption than energy drinks and sustained performance, without the crash. Student members: Libby Banicky, Adelaide Duey, Matthew Miles.<\/li>\n<li><strong>HydroGrip<\/strong> &#8211; awarded $7,000: HydroGrip provides a supportive base equipped with built-in suction technology to prevent reusable water bottles from frequently falling over. Our product offers a lightweight, stable, and BPA-free solution designed to ensure a spill-free workspace. Student members: Faith Goshert, Amir Samalya, Zariah Wells, Dysie Yancey.<\/li>\n<li><strong>TeeMate<\/strong> &#8211; $5,000: TeeMate is a golf club attachment that prevents bending over while golfing. This single attachment facilitates essential course functions, including setting up a tee, picking up a ball, and lastly picking up a tee. Student members: Brady Langman, Harper Warren, Cayden Ward.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conetic Sports<\/strong> -$4,000: Conetic is a silicone, folding sports cone that is made to withstand outdoor practices and is weighted to prevent movement. Our cones make practices more efficient and effective. Student members: Roxy Bedell, Sofia Gonzalez, Grayson Lambert, Ian Tate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>FloGo<\/strong> &#8211; Conditional funding based on judges\u2019 feedback: FloGo is a self-contained paintbrush that stores paint directly within the body of the brush, delivering a consistent and controlled flow. It reduces waste, minimizes the mess, and eliminates the need to constantly return to your palette. Student members: Macy Carasella, Sophia Creswell, Kenley Garrett, Isabella Waldron.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Slap &amp; Grab<\/strong> &#8211; Conditional funding based on judges\u2019 feedback: Engineered for performance, Slap &amp; Grab uses magnetized silicone to improve your grip on gym equipment and metal bars. Its rubber-shielded design enhances comfort while promoting better hygiene, allowing you to focus entirely on your workout. Student members: Elijah Aransiola, Evan Cotten, Jackson Kerrigan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before the stage show, additional student teams set up table displays in the hallway outside the auditorium to explain their products.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the event, students deliver polished pitches that mirror real-world startup presentations \u2014 articulating their value proposition, target market, competitive advantage and financial outlook to a judging panel of local business experts.<\/p>\n<p>Each team demonstrated not only the viability of their idea but also the depth of their research, creativity, and problem-solving skills developed through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unchartedlearning.org\/student-programs\/incubatoredu-high-school-entrepreneurship?scrlybrkr=311f5fee\">INCubatoredu<\/a> experience.<\/p>\n<p>This year&#8217;s judging panel included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Gil Bland, president and chairman of the Urban League of Hampton Roads<\/li>\n<li>Drew Ungvarsky, co-founder and CEO of Assembly<\/li>\n<li>Delceno Miles, president and CEO of The Miles Agency<\/li>\n<li>Billy Foster, president and CEO of TowneBank<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Event host Bruce Thompson, chief executive officer of Gold Key |\u00a0 PHR (Professional Hospitality Resources), was impressed that all seven stage teams received funding opportunities to continue developing their businesses.<\/p>\n<p><em>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/justinmorrisphoto.pixieset.com\/pitchnight2026\/\">https:\/\/justinmorrisphoto.pixieset.com\/pitchnight2026\/<\/a> for more images from Pitch Night.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15187\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15187\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-69-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-15187\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-69-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-69-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-69-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-69-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-69-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-69-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-69-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15187\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Before the stage show, additional student teams set up table displays in the hallway outside the auditorium to explain their products.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15189\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15189\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-112-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-15189\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-112-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-112-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-112-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-112-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-112-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-112-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-112-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15189\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">TeeMate was awarded $5,000 for their product &#8211; a club attachment that prevents bending over while golfing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15190\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15190\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-150-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-15190\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-150-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-150-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-150-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-150-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-150-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-150-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26_KempsPitchNight_051326-150-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15190\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Team FloGo pitched a self-contained paintbrush that sores paint directly within the brush.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15192\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15192\" style=\"width: 653px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Better-Boost.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15192\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Better-Boost.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"653\" height=\"477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Better-Boost.jpg 653w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Better-Boost-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Better-Boost-400x292.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 653px) 100vw, 653px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15192\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Better Boost won $7,000 for their product, a fast-acting caffeinated gum engineered for athletes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15193\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15193\" style=\"width: 673px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Conetic-Sports.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15193\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Conetic-Sports.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"673\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Conetic-Sports.png 673w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Conetic-Sports-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Conetic-Sports-400x263.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 673px) 100vw, 673px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15193\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Conetic Sports earned $4,000 for its silicone, folding sports cone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15183\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15183\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-108-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-15183\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-108-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-108-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-108-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-108-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-108-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-108-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PitchNight_2026-108-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15183\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Slap &amp; Grab won conditional funding based on judges\u2019 feedback for its magnetized dumbell wrap that provides a hygenic grip for weightlifters. (Photo by Justin Morris | VBCPS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Entrepreneurship and Business Academy (EBA) Pitch Night highlighted the innovation, collaboration, and business acumen of student entrepreneurs. During the high-energy evening at Kempsville High School, student teams presented their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":15185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-connections","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15181"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15194,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15181\/revisions\/15194"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}