By Megan Bevins
West Virginia’s premier entrepreneurship event, Bridging Innovation Week, stands at the forefront of driving entrepreneurship-led economic development in the state. This annual symposium fosters vital connections and offers invaluable education to business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs and organizations that support the entrepreneurial ecosystem across West Virginia.
Bridging Innovation Week 2024 was held from April 8 to April 11 at the Marshall Health Network Arena in Huntington, WV, and had over 1,000 attendees. April 10 was the conference’s competition day. This event awarded over $400,000 in non-dilutive funds to aspiring West Virginia businesses, providing a platform for eager entrepreneurs to share their ideas and compete for investment and financial support. The competitions that made up this day were SparkWV, IgniteWV and the Hayhurst Invitational.
Hosted by The Edventure Group, Inc., SparkWV inspired innovation in middle and high school students through its two tracks, Big Ideas and Small Business. Award winners for the Big Ideas track were SE4SONS from Pikeview High School in first place with $1,500; AED Drones from Carver Career and Technical Education Center in second place with $1,000; and Tag On The Go from Ripley High School in third place with $500. The Small Business track award winners were The Mad Jammer from Grafton High School in first place with $1,500; Passing Thai from Monongalia County Technical Education Center in second place with $1,000; and G+P Vet Services from Fairmont Senior High School with $500.
West Virginia University (WVU) Encova Center’s IgniteWV competition, the state’s largest annual pitch competition awarding over $200,000 in non-diluted funds, empowered aspiring founders ages 18 and over to launch successful startups in the state. IgniteWV consisted of two tracks, Main Street and Tech/Innovation, and provided finalists with a four-month program with tailored training, coaching and resources. The first place award of $27,300 for the Main Street track went to Battle Buddy Bears LLC. Lora Yeater, founder, says the reason for starting this business is deeply personal.
“It all started with my son who faced a monumental battle against AML Leukemia,” she says. “While the medical care was exceptional, there was one enemy we could not fight with medicine—the profound feeling of isolation that gripped my son with the feeling of loneliness and emotional challenges.”
Yeater is guided by her mission for Battle Buddy Bears: no child battles alone. She is grateful for the mentors, coaches and judges who helped her throughout this competition and says winning is not just a victory but the realization of a dream ignited by love and a passionate desire to make a difference.
“This victory belongs to everyone who believed in my mission,” she says. “It belongs to the heroes in scrubs who fight for our children, the families who know the isolating grip of illness and, most importantly, everyone who saw the potential in Battle Buddy Bears.”
Other winners for IgniteWV’s Main Street track were Mal’s Fresh Produce, owned by Mallory Moholt, in second place with $26,500; Curated Wonder LLC, owned by Terran Quinlan, in third place with $17,600; Fun Fitness Kids Club LLC, owned by Traci and Justin Phillips, in fourth place with $12,600; Pine Room Studios LLC, presented by Brian Campbell, Jarrett Delbrugge and Jub Delbrugge, in fifth place with $11,000; and Paw Thaws, owned by Dallas Mullett and Jordan Gehring, in sixth place with $5,000.
IgniteWV’s Tech/Innovation track had two awardees, with the first place prize of $70,000 going to Moodr Health and the second place prize of $30,000 going to Brite. Jackie Lytton, director of marketing and business development for Moodr Health, says that one of the business’ advisors, Mike Green, encouraged her and her team to enter this competition. Tara St. Clair, director of the Encova Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, also encouraged her to apply. Lytton is thankful for their support.
“I’m beyond grateful for our support system that has taught me to be confident in myself and my team,” she says. “Our win at IgniteWV solidified my belief that Moodr has the ability to help so many people.”
The Hayhurst Invitational was a new statewide pitch competition hosted by WVU’s Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab. The competition’s first place prize of $100,000 went to Lost Creek Farms and the second place prize of $50,000 went to Mountain Steer Meat Company.
From students to seasoned founders, Bridging Innovation Week 2024 highlighted the power of creativity, resilience and community. Beyond the awards, it inspired and empowered attendees to enact change in the Mountain State.
