2023 Spark Venture Competition Winners
The 2023 Spark Venture Competition is a beacon of innovation and entrepreneurial success for the Sacramento Region. This Global Entrepreneurship Week 2023annual event, hosted by the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Sac State and presented by Western Health Advantage, was a focal point during . With a tempting $20,000 in cash prizes, it attracted a host of innovative participants who truly rose to the occasion.
For Profit Winners
In the for-profit sector, Agrinerds, led by Maurice Pitesky, took home the top prize of $7,500. This team, consisting of veterinarians, engineers, and researchers, is revolutionizing agribusiness with modern statistical methods and a commitment to sustainable, data-driven solution. Close on their heels, Rely, a peer-to-peer real estate marketplace co-founded by Heather Rankow and Ashley Keyes, clinched the second-place prize of $2,500 for its novel approach to real estate transactions.
Social Ventures
Shifting to social ventures, Inspirame, founded by Maria Medrano, won the first prize of $7,500. Inspirame is dedicated to forging a college-to-career pathway for vulnerable populations, a mission that resonated deeply with the judges. Following suit, Strived.io, led by Shweta Gandhi, secured the second-place prize of $2,500. This venture employs artificial intelligence to augment teacher decision-making, showcasing the transformative power of technology in education.
The competition's success owes much to its esteemed panel of judges, including Sara Ledterman, David Peregrine, and Douglas Younger III, whose expertise and discerning evaluations were crucial in selecting the winners.
This event not only celebrated the winners but also shone a spotlight on the resilience, creativity, and dedication of all participants. It underscored the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit in the Greater Sacramento Region. Congratulations to Agrinerds, Rely, Inspirame, and Strived.io for their achievements. Their impact on their respective industries is eagerly anticipated, as they continue to carry the torch of innovation into the future. The Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Western Health Advantage, and all stakeholders can take pride in fostering a thriving ecosystem of innovation in Sacramento.
About Rich Foreman
Rich Foreman is the founder of KidneyLuv which develops solutions for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Patients (CKD). He is also the COO of IGH Naturals. Previously, as founding CTO, Rich led the team that developed the CordicoShield / CordicoFire Wellness App. Cordico was honored with the Sacramento Innovation Award in 2021. After achieving a 7 digit ARR, Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020. Rich has a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Washington, an MPA from Troy State University and was an officer in the U.S. Navy.
Rich co-authored his book, "Tap into the Mobile Economy." Rich's blog was listed in Top 20 Marketing Mobile Blogs of 2014. He has been featured on KCRA3, NEWS10, 1170 Tech AM PowerDrive, Business Radio Money 105.5, SiliconIndia, the Sacramento Business Journal, and the Sacramento Bee. Rich is also the Founding Director of the Sacramento Chapter of Startup Grind and served a term as Utility Commissioner for the City of Folsom. Rich is a regular contributor to TechWire.net and StartupSac.com. Rich was the Co-founder of Apptology which was named Small Business of the Year in 2014 by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber.
