The seven entrepreneurs in the StartUp Lehigh Valley pitch competition bring ideas ranging from increasing opportunities for electric vehicle charging to making mothers more comfortable while breastfeeding to providing a security blanket for people who live alone. 
They will compete for more than $26,000 in prizes before a live audience on Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at ArtsQuest at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. The event, which is free to attend and does not require a ticket, will be broadcast live by WFMZ Channel 69 and livestreamed at wfmz.com.
“StartUp Lehigh Valley is a catalyst for the entire region,” said Nathan Urban, Provost at Lehigh University, which hosts the Shark Tank-style competition to provide early-stage founders with the credibility, capital, and community support needed to scale.
The event serves as a platform to market the Lehigh Valley as a destination where high-growth, innovative companies can launch and thrive.
“Success isn't just about the grand prize; it’s about the doors that open for every founder who steps onto that stage. We are seeing past competitors—both winners and runners-up—transform their industries and secure major national investment,” said Urban, who is a member of the Board of Directors at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, which supports entrepreneurship by leading the Entrepreneurship Council of the Lehigh Valley.
Entrepreneurs and early-stage companies play a key role in the regional economy, bringing new products and technologies to market, creating jobs, and strengthening communities. The Lehigh Valley boasts a network of support organizations, which assist with everything from free advice to financing to networking opportunities to incubator space.
The StartUp Lehigh Valley finalists are:
- Coul Street, Inc., Bethlehem, enables electric vehicle charging while parked on a street and in other places that don’t traditionally accommodate charging, with chargers designed to blend into the surroundings.
- LegalPocket.ai, Easton, is an AI legal intake specialist that takes a description of a customer’s problem and connects them with an attorney who handles such claims.
- SkyPreme Resolve, Allentown, helps companies comply with federal regulations by flagging audit-readiness gaps before an inspection and drafting a validated response to any formal violation notices.
- Acute Baby Co., Royersford, designed The Wedge, an adjustable-angle breastfeeding pillow designed to improve positioning and latch for babies and reduce physical strain for mothers.
- JAERIMY, Inc., Reading, has developed ERIC (Emergent Reply Imminent Crisis), a time-based safety check-in app for people who live alone. Users confirm they are okay on their own schedule. If they don't check-in, ERIC alerts emergency contacts using their GPS location.
- NextPick.io, Philadelphia, is a marketplace for college recruiting expertise — connecting high school athletes, vetted recruiting experts (former coaches and insiders), and college programs.
- Racklify, Inc., Narberth, is a marketplace and advertising platform for fulfillment and logistics that helps brands discover, evaluate, and connect with the right 3PLs, warehouses, and logistics providers.
They will compete for a grand prize of $20,000 in addition to other prizes, including an Audience Choice Award, to be voted on by those in attendance and watching on wfmz.com.
Judges for the StartUp Lehigh Valley competition are Olivia (Abrams) Bleiweiss, a Lehigh University graduate who is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and CEO and co-founder of TiCK MiTT; Sandy Denton, a retired technology executive, Lehigh University Trustee, and startup advisor; and Mike Gausling, a serial entrepreneur and venture capital investor who was a co-founder and former CEO of OraSure Technologies, one of the Lehigh Valley's premier entrepreneur success stories.
(Photo by Lehigh University)