Cohort 12 Pitch Night: Five Founders. One Stage. Endless Possibilities.

Opening the Evening with Inspiration

The evening began with welcome remarks from Harold Hughes, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at The Boost Pad, who reminded attendees that entrepreneurship is not simply about launching businesses—it's about solving meaningful problems, creating opportunities, and strengthening communities.

Guests were then inspired by William Ward, Founder of Flexie and a proud The Boost Pad Cohort 4 alumnus, who shared his entrepreneurial journey and reflected on the lessons, perseverance, and faith required to build a business. His story demonstrated what is possible after completing The Boost Pad program and offered encouragement to every founder preparing to pitch.

With the stage set, it was time for the main event.

Five Entrepreneurs Took the Stage

Each finalist had five minutes to present their business, followed by questions from an esteemed panel of judges. Their pitches reflected months of preparation, countless hours of refinement, and the courage required to present a vision for the future.

Devin Francisco — The Balanced Business

Devin Francisco presented The Balanced Business, a company dedicated to helping behavioral health professionals build sustainable and successful practices through operational support, business strategy, and administrative solutions. Her presentation highlighted a mission to bridge the gap between exceptional healthcare providers and the business systems needed to help their practices thrive.

Scott White — WG Classics

Scott White introduced WG Classics, an innovative luxury peer-to-peer marketplace connecting classic and collectible vehicle owners with enthusiasts seeking unforgettable driving experiences. His vision demonstrated how passion, technology, and nostalgia can come together to create an entirely new marketplace.

Nithin Aravapalli — OnSpotly

Nithin Aravapalli showcased OnSpotly, sharing his vision for a platform designed to create on demand social media content through technology. Beyond being one of the evening's finalists, Nithin and the OnSpotly team also helped capture and share moments from Pitch Night, helping extend the celebration far beyond the event itself. We are grateful for their continued support and partnership in highlighting Charlotte's entrepreneurial community.

Daija Peeler — SevenSixteen

Daija Peeler took the stage to present SevenSixteen, sharing both her business vision and the purpose that drives her work. Her confidence, clarity, and compelling storytelling resonated with the judges and audience alike, reflecting the tremendous growth she demonstrated throughout Cohort 12.

Amoura Carter — AC Creative Collective



Amoura Carter presented AC Creative Collective, highlighting the power of creativity, branding, and strategic storytelling to help businesses strengthen their identity and connect more effectively with their audiences. Her presentation reflected both creativity and professionalism while demonstrating the value creative entrepreneurs bring to the business ecosystem.

Recognizing Excellence

While every entrepreneur who stepped onto the stage represented the very best of Cohort 12, several founders received special recognition for their outstanding achievements.

🏆 Startup Currency Award – $5,000

The evening's highest honor, the $5,000 Startup Currency Award, sponsored by the NC IDEA Foundation, was awarded to Daija Peeler, Founder of SevenSixteen.

Presented by Sarah Mixter, Director of Ecosystem Engagement at NC IDEA and one of the evening's distinguished judges, the award recognizes founders with exceptional promise and supports the next stage of business growth through catalytic funding. The presentation represented more than financial support—it symbolized the confidence that North Carolina's entrepreneurial ecosystem has in founders like Daija and the future they are building.

🏆 Best Pitch Deck Award

The Best Pitch Deck Award was presented to Dreu Dixon, Founder of MoveShepherd, in recognition of developing the cohort's strongest and most compelling investor presentation.

Although Dreu was not among the evening's five finalists, his pitch deck stood out for its clarity, organization, storytelling, and overall presentation, demonstrating the importance of communicating a business vision effectively.

🌟 Special Recognition Award

In one of the evening's most memorable moments, Executive Director Steven Lewis presented a special $250 Sparkhouse Award to Sofia Norenko, celebrating her entrepreneurial spirit and determination.

As one of the youngest entrepreneurs to participate in The Boost Pad, Sofia and her team reminded everyone in attendance that innovation has no age requirement. Her willingness to pursue entrepreneurship at such an early stage inspired both fellow founders and community leaders alike, embodying the courage and curiosity that The Boost Pad seeks to cultivate in every entrepreneur.

Thank You to Our Judges

Pitch Night would not have been possible without the thoughtful feedback, encouragement, and expertise provided by our outstanding panel of judges:

• Dr. Joan T. Randall, Founder & CEO, Victorious You Press
• Sarah Mixter, Director of Ecosystem Engagement, NC IDEA
• Lynne Walters, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship, Ally

Their questions, insights, and thoughtful evaluation challenged each entrepreneur to think more deeply about their business models while encouraging them to continue growing beyond the competition.

Powered by Partnership

The Boost Pad believes entrepreneurship flourishes through collaboration, and Cohort 12 Pitch Night was a powerful reflection of what is possible when organizations unite around a shared mission.

We extend our deepest appreciation to:

• Do Greater Charlotte and Spark House for their continued partnership and for providing an incredible new home for entrepreneurs to gather, learn, and grow.
• Ally Bank, proud sponsor of both Community Access to Capital and Cohort 12 Pitch Night, for investing in founders and expanding opportunities throughout our community.
• NC IDEA Foundation, whose sponsorship of the Startup Currency Award continues to fuel innovation and empower entrepreneurs across North Carolina.
• Our many community partners, volunteers, mentors, and supporters whose dedication strengthens Charlotte's entrepreneurial ecosystem every single day.

Congratulations, Cohort 12

Pitch Night is not simply about winning awards.

It is about founders finding their voice.

It is about entrepreneurs gaining the confidence to stand before a room full of leaders, investors, partners, and peers to declare, "This is the future I am building."

To every entrepreneur who participated in Cohort 12, congratulations. Whether you walked away with an award, a new connection, valuable feedback, or renewed confidence, you are leaving this program stronger than when you began.

At The Boost Pad, we are honored to be part of your journey and look forward to seeing each of your businesses continue to grow, create opportunities, and make a lasting impact in our communities.

The stage may have closed on Pitch Night, but for these founders, the journey is only just beginning.