LionCage pitch competitions offered mentoring, prizes for local entrepreneurs

MALVERN, Pa. — Penn State Great Valley hosted its annual LionCage competition on Nov. 14, with entrepreneurs from the Greater Philadelphia region pitching 23 start-up companies and competing for $35,000 in total prize money.

This collaborative event — organized by Invent Penn State LaunchBoxes at Brandywine and Great Valley and the Chester County Economic Development Council’s Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n) — was the culmination of a yearlong initiative supporting entrepreneurs throughout the Philadelphia region. This support included more than 75 coaching sessions to help local founders refine their business plans and pitches as well as a series of six pitch competitions and panel discussions. These “Road to LionCage” events, each of which awarded $1,000 in prizes, included:

• A pitch competition for women founders, held on March 26 at Penn State Brandywine
• An open category competition for entrepreneurs in Montgomery County, held on May 21 at Discovery Labs in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
• A social impact competition for founders of social enterprises and nonprofits, held on July 23 at the Chester County United Way
• An open category competition for innovators in Philadelphia, held on Sept. 11 at Comcast LIFT Labs
• A competition for young entrepreneurs, held Sept. 30 at Downingtown STEM Academy
• A competition for veteran founders, held Oct. 15 at veteran-owned Green Castle Consulting and hosted by veteran-owned Layer 8 Security

Finalists from these six events were given the opportunity to pitch their businesses at the Nov. 14 LionCage competition.

“The LionCage organizers held a 30-minute prep session where participants practiced their pitches in front of mentors,” said Tushar Tushar, a data analytics student at Penn State Great Valley. “They provided constructive feedback on our delivery, messaging and body language, which helped me feel not just more confident, but also more compelling and strategic in how I presented our idea.”

Tushar and Anushka Thagle, also a Great Valley data analytics student, presented AI Sentinel, a platform they conceived with classmate Muhammad Faizan Raza, based on their work as research assistants conducting systematic literature reviews on ethical AI and regulatory governance. AI Sentinel promotes trustworthy AI operation by translating complex global regulations and standards into real-time, self-auditing logic that monitors and enforces compliance.

After the pitch presentations, three entrepreneurs were selected to receive $1,000 awards:

• LaunchBox recognition award, selected by LaunchBox staff: MORE, presented by Declan Curran. MORE is an app and social network that connects young entrepreneurs, dreamers and creators locally to share progress, celebrate wins and ask for help through a community feed.
• i2n recognition award, selected by i2n staff and board members: MyNextory, presented by Ginny Palmieri. MyNextory is a career coaching and professional development platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that combines behavioral science and predictive analytics, empowering individuals to take ownership of their growth and equipping HR teams to reduce attrition and boost internal mobility.
• Audience choice award, selected by audience voting: Script Masterminds, presented by Om Gagrani. Script Masterminds is a hands-on, beginner-friendly board game that teaches fundamental programming concepts. Players learn to code by solving challenges, making decisions and collaborating with others.

A panel of five judges, drawing on their expertise in technology, consulting and business development, awarded cash prizes ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 in various categories:

• Chester County United Way social impact award: Prize, presented by Dan “PJ” Kohli. Prize is a technology company that fosters self-improvement for veterans navigating the complex transition from military to civilian life. The Prize app helps veterans clarify their personal vision, develop a clear path toward it and connect with resource organizations to assist them in reaching their objectives.
• Technology-focused award: BleedIO, presented by Lee Beup. BleedIO’s application and decentralized mesh network as a service (NaaS) eliminate unplanned downtime and provide the uninterrupted connectivity and responsiveness required by commercial Internet of Things users.
• Most innovative award: Airalux, presented by Josh Freedman. Airalux is a smart, handheld spirometer for in-hospital and at-home use, designed to prevent post-operative lung complications. It guides patients through breathing exercises using reminders, real-time feedback and gamified motivation. It also tracks inhalation data for clinician review.
• Product-market fit and LionCage best-in-show awards: NoPlex, presented by Matt Canning. The NoPlex app aims to empower individuals struggling with ADHD and anxiety to thrive in a neurotypical world. Developed with the help of ADHD coaches and clinicians, NoPlex encourages users to take a more sustainable approach to managing chaos and handling day-to-day tasks.
• Rising entrepreneur award: Solvis, presented by Aveer Chadha and Qayn Jaffer. Solvis utilizes AI and machine learning technology to help construction companies manage waste runoff, reducing environmental harm and preventing fines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A computer-vision-based camera detects runoff at construction sites and displays the data, sending notifications and mitigation strategies when levels approach the EPA threshold.

LionCage also featured networking opportunities with investors and mentors as well as presentations from industry leaders, including Mike DiPiano, managing general partner at NewSpring Capital and Penn State Brandywine alumnus; Jen Gilburg, deputy secretary of technology and entrepreneurship at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; and Michael Carter, founder and CEO of EMG Worldwide, Inc.

Sponsors of the event included the Kauders Foundation, TD Bank, Chester County United Way, Vanguard, Layer 8 Security, MVM Associates, Epic Foods, Fox Rothschild, OneDigital and the Freckled Strawberry.