Startups focused on robotics and biofriendly fertilizer earned top honors Thursday at the Center Street Pitch Competition held at the Dominion Energy Innovation Center in Ashland.
The winner in the energy and sustainability category was Sterling's Applied Impact Robotics, which is developing an autonomous robotic solution capable of inspecting the floor of a crude oil tank while the tank remains in-service. The startup claimed a $7,500 prize.
“Their technology is truly bringing a groundbreaking technological solution to a real problem that costs money and takes a significant environmental toll,” said DEIC Director Adam Sledd.
Richmond's NTP Technologies, which makes salt-free nitrate fertilizer that is organic, environmentally friendly and without hydrocarbon inputs, was the winner of the Richmond-area agriculture enterprise category. It also won a $7,500 prize.
Sledd said NTP's product is highly relevant because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as Russia is one of the largest producers of ammonia, which is used in synthetic fertilizer. "That is responsible for almost 3% of the total world carbon emissions, so it is a massive global problem," he said.
A group of students from Randolph-Macon College, located across the street from the DEIC, pitched Voice !t, a nonpartisan, civic-engagement advocacy platform, winning $5,000.
Also competing in the energy and sustainability category were: Charlottesville's Transfoam, which uses engineered microorganisms to turn plastic waste into a fully biodegradable alternative to create healthier and more sustainable consumer goods and packaging; Norfolk's Frontline Gig, which staffs green gig jobs to help cities fight blight and make it easier for parks and stormwater managers to quickly plug staffing holes; and D.C.'s Globally Unified Air Quality, which provides commercial-grade air quality monitors and an accompanying software suite at a consumer-grade price.
The two other companies competing in the agricultural enterprise category were: Mechanicsville's Studley Farms, a local family farm offering ethically and sustainably raised meats; and Rockville's Keenbell Farms, which sells meats and grains directly to the consumer.
“If we could just fund these people, it would go a long way toward solving a lot of the environmental problems we have,” said Sledd.
The DEIC, a startup incubator and coworking facility located at 201 Duncan St., is a public-private nonprofit. Sledd said the pitch competition, which is in its third year, is a great lead up to Center Street’s forthcoming accelerator program.