Three Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC) clients swept the top prizes at The COMMUNITY Foundation for Greater New Haven’s Tech & Innovation Pitch Night, held September 10, 2026, at Tate’s in Middletown.
Zemi Labs earned first place, Kora secured second, and Lending Automator took third—giving CTSBDC clients all three top spots. “We are thrilled to see these innovative businesses thriving and finding support within Connecticut’s small business ecosystem,” said Dorian Zwierewicz, State Director of CTSBDC. “Congratulations on these wins and on what comes next for these inspiring businesses.”
Zemi Labs CEO John Toribio describes the company’s product as a “wearable lab.” Its smart clothing collects health-monitoring data and is used in research at UConn and Yale University, allowing study participants to continue gathering data beyond the lab. What sets the clothing apart, Toribio says, is its construction: “We’re not the only company making smart clothing, but we are the only ones that can cover significant areas on the body and capture multiple types of signals.” Rather than relying on wires or embroidered threads, Zemi Labs screenprints an entire pattern of conductive ink, enabling the company to accommodate different sizes and styles. Toribio plans to use the prize money to build more prototypes and continue testing, including testing the clothing’s washability.
Kora is an AI-powered marketing platform that gives small businesses a complete online presence through a simple chat, including WhatsApp. Founder and CEO Nitesh Pundra says Kora scans a business’s online presence, identifies what’s holding it back, and then fixes it: improving Google visibility, building websites, managing reviews and social content, and running ads, with a human team standing behind the AI. Kora already serves paying customers across industries, from restaurants and medical practices to landscapers; all won through founder-led sales. “Small business owners don’t have time to become marketers, and most can’t afford an agency,” Pundra said. “Kora gives them the tools big brands have, at a price that makes sense for a local business.” He plans to use the prize money to improve the product and reach more customers.
Lending Automator helps mortgage brokers close more non-bank loans by matching them with appropriate lenders and resources, accelerating the path to closing. CEO Stephen Kobelski says the platform is well suited for investment properties, flips, rentals, and commercial properties, as well as borrowers seeking nontraditional funding from sources other than banks. Now that the company has demonstrated market fit, Kobelski says, “We can acquire new customers at a low cost.” Lending Automator plans to use the prize money to expand its marketing while preparing to open a pre-seed funding round. “We are looking for investors to help us scale,” he said.
Congratulations to Zemi Labs, Kora, and Lending Automator on this well-earned recognition. Their success reflects the innovation, determination, and entrepreneurial talent driving Connecticut’s small business community forward. CTSBDC is proud to support businesses like these with no-cost, confidential advising and practical resources that help entrepreneurs refine their strategies, overcome challenges, and pursue their next stage of growth.