Connecticut’s next wave of innovation took center stage at the Westport Country Playhouse’s Lucille Lortel White Barn, where ten finalists pitched AI-driven solutions designed to tackle real-world challenges. Hosted by the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC) in partnership with PREDICTif Solutions, nClouds, and AWS, the AI Pitch Competition showcased the ingenuity of the state’s entrepreneurs while providing up to $135,000 in professional services and access to critical support services—helping transform promising ideas into scalable ventures.
The judges—Christine Sullivan of CTSBDC, James Sandler of PREDICTif, and Jonas Bull from nClouds—had a difficult decision to make as some of Connecticut’s digital leaders brought their solutions before the crowd. “Their ingenuity and vision represent the very best of Connecticut’s entrepreneurial spirit. Seeing how these competitors harnessed artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems is a testament to why our state remains a hub for innovation,” says Dorian Zwierewicz, State Director of CTSBDC.
Lance Mald’s BrandChef.ai took home the first-place prize with his pitch for “the marketing department you didn’t think you could afford.”
“I am truly excited to have won the CTSBDC AI Pitch Competition,” says Mald. “Ten great startups with ten compelling stories. As a solopreneur receiving feedback and validation from others is particularly meaningful. And the opportunity to take the next step with nClouds is exactly what BrandChef needs.”
But Mald was not the night’s only big winner. Jeff Pezze bills Valuenest as “Bloomberg for small business.” It took home second prize and promises to run the same financial analysis as a business buyer’s Quality of Earnings team. Second place secured up to $35,000 in professional services.
Two competitors tied for the third-place prize of up to $25,000 in professional services. Nupur Garg and Jeanine A. Defalco won for Pro-Patient Tech and Mixta, respectively. Mixta aims to help workers retrain and improve their skills as Generative AI disrupts work. Pro-Patient Tech delivers lifestyle care at the moment it matters, taking the pressure off physicians and patients dealing with chronic illnesses.
While the big prizes went to these four companies, no one went home entirely empty-handed. Sandler and Bull were so impressed with the presenters that they offered to connect and discuss possible funding opportunities after the competition. Those finalists, chosen from more than 50 applicants, included:
- Jacob Zachs, Sift
- Richard Samela, Vetta
- Sean Roberts, KISHO
- Sebastian Hormigo, floduz
- Stephany Kaufman, UPBEAT
- Vincent Crisco, PeytonixAI
Through initiatives like the AI Pitch Competition, CTSBDC and its partners are helping turn bold ideas into scalable solutions, ensuring that entrepreneurs have the resources, mentorship, and momentum they need to succeed. By fostering collaboration between visionary founders and industry leaders, this program is helping position Connecticut at the forefront of artificial intelligence and emerging technology, all while strengthening the small business community that drives the state’s economic future.