Tech419 Pitch Competition Showcase

Celebrate the spirit of innovation and witness disruptive tech startups fiercely compete for more than $20,000 in project funding & prizes. Join us for an exciting evening of innovation, entrepreneurship, and community support at the Tech419 Pitch Competition. As the premier event for emerging tech startups in Northwest Ohio, this event dedicated to fostering the growth of regional entrepreneurs and propelling their groundbreaking ideas to new heights. Be part of a movement that empowers local innovators, drives economic growth, and shapes the future of technology in our region. What is Tech419? Tech419 goes beyond a traditional competition by providing hands-on coaching and a structured pitch training experience for five selected finalists. Over several weeks, participants refine their public speaking skills, strengthen their investor decks, and learn to craft compelling business narratives. The experience culminates in a high-energy public pitch event where finalists present their ventures to a panel of judges and a live audience of investors, community leaders, and supporters. Top presenters compete for more than $20,000 in non-dilutive funding and prizes, but all finalists gain something more valuable—visibility, credibility, and meaningful connections that support long-term growth. Why It's Unique • Preparation Focused: Finalists complete a structured training program before the live event. • Founder-First: Emphasis on storytelling, speaking confidence, and startup strategy. • Community-Driven: Brings together students, researchers, and tech innovators from across Northwest Ohio. • Connected to Growth: Finalists gain access to UTBI resources, advisors, and follow-on support. Witness the transformative power of storytelling and support the next generation of leaders at the Tech419 Pitch Competition, and together, we can create a thriving tech ecosystem in Northwest Ohio that benefits everyone. 2026 Competitors Altered Gravity - Dr. Eda Yildirim-Ayan Drawing from her expertise in mechanobiology and living tissue systems, Dr. Eda Yildirim-Ayan’s research shaped the development of the Biomimetic Engineered Space Technology (BEST) platform and the formation of her company, Altered Gravity. About the size of a standard kitchen microwave, the platform recreates lunar, Martian, orbital, and other partial-gravity environments from a laboratory benchtop. By giving companies and research institutions greater control over experimental variables at a significantly lower cost, Altered Gravity makes it more practical to study how gravity changes living systems before advancing to space-based testing. Ossatura Labs - Yogesh Kumaran Ossatura Labs is developing a patient-specific surgical planning platform to help orthopaedic trauma surgeons make more informed fixation decisions before a patient reaches the operating room. Drawing on Yogesh Kumaran’s biomedical engineering training, medical education, and extensive work in orthopaedic biomechanics, the platform uses diagnostic imaging and physics-based simulation to evaluate how fixation constructs may perform for an individual patient. For surgeons treating complex fractures, the technology offers a more measurable way to plan around the patient’s injury and bone quality before surgery begins. By translating advanced computational modeling into practical surgical planning support, Ossatura Labs is working to bring greater precision to orthopaedic trauma care. ILUminate - Nathan Meller Nathan Meller saw the workforce visibility problem firsthand while helping manufacturing companies modernize their operations. Too often, plant leaders were trying to answer a critical question with outdated records or informal supervisor knowledge: who is qualified to do the job right now? ILUminate was built to replace that uncertainty with a live, auditable skill matrix that shows which employees are trained, where coverage gaps exist, and how workforce capabilities align with production needs. By giving manufacturers a clearer view of their teams, ILUminate helps plants make stronger staffing decisions while creating a more objective foundation for skill-based pay. Plate and Strap Immobilizer - Shawn Monteiro Shawn Monteiro is developing a surgical tool shaped by both engineering training and a firsthand understanding of orthopaedic care. The Plate and Strap Immobilizer is designed to stabilize the hand and other joints during procedures where secure positioning and workflow simplicity matter. Its reusable design pairs a perforated plate with an adjustable strap system, helping the device conform to surgeon preference and patient anatomy. By reducing reliance on disposable equipment and overly complex setups, Shawn’s innovation aims to make surgical preparation more efficient while supporting better care in the operating room. Echo - Michael Vanderpool Michael Vanderpool’s career has centered on helping people use technology in practical, accessible ways. Echo applies that same approach to facility maintenance by making problem reporting fast, simple, and location-specific. Each asset receives a unique quick response code placard, so anyone who notices an issue can send a report without an app, login, or personal data. For facility teams, that means fewer missed problems, clearer communication, and better insight into recurring maintenance needs. Echo turns small moments of frustration into useful operational information.