Facing off against five other startups from the region, Denver's Vita Inclinata Technologies took home the $50,000 grand prize in the BBVA Entrepreneurial Opportunity Contest finale in Phoenix.
The contest, ran in partnership with the American City Business Journals, was launched earlier this year in six different markets: Denver, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Houston and Phoenix. Each market winner took home $10,000 and was invited to compete for the $50,000 final round prize at the end of October.
After winning the local competition, Vita Inclinata's autonomous suspended load stability system impressed judges and landed it the grand prize.
Vita Inclinata's technology is essentially a drone that provides counter-thrust to bring a helicopter's rescue basket back to center. The company, founded in 2012, is preparing to rollout its technology for military and civilian use next year.
Founder and CEO Caleb Carr said the technology has a variety of uses for rescue operations for the military, in construction and the oil and gas industry and much more.
"We build technology that brings people home every time," he said, harkening back to the company's mission statement.
The story and drive behind Vita Inclinata separated it from the competition in the BBVA contest, director of business banking Elizabeth Dobers said.
Carr launched the company after a helicopter couldn't rescue a close friend that was suffering from cardiac arrest years ago in the Oregon wilderness. The helicopter's basket was violently swinging, forcing rescuers to abandon the operation.
"While all of our six regional finalists possessed unique and clear business growth plans, the panel concluded that Vita Inclinata's mission was an exceptionally powerful venture," Dobers said in a statement. "The story behind the company, its business model and its use of digital capabilities were all significant factors in deeming them the overall winner."
Carr said the competition was important in introducing Vita Inclinata to key banking figures as the company prepares to deploy its life-saving technology next year.
Vita Inclinata has 23 employees and Carr expects that number to grow to nearly 50 by the end of next year.
