Bridging Innovation Week’s Competition Day

Wednesday, April 30 | Shepherd University Frank Center

2025 Competitions & Events

  • SparkWV

    The EdVenture Group, in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Education, is excited to present SparkWV, an entrepreneurship competition designed to ignite the creativity of West Virginia’s middle and high school students. SparkWV offers young innovators the chance to turn their ideas into reality, develop business skills, and compete for prizes. 

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  • IgniteWV

    IgniteWV is a competition open to all parties 18+ interested in registering a business in West Virginia to support the start and growth of their business ideas. Finalists will go through trainings, mentoring and benchmarking to receive technical assistance funds based on need.

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  • WV Innovation & Business Model Competition

    The West Virginia Innovation and Business Model Competition (WVIBMC) is a competition is hosted by Marshall University and the Lewis College of Business and the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business. The WVIBMC places particular focus on identifying significant problems and developing problem-solution fit through customer feedback and field research. 

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  • Vantage Ventures Validation

    Vantage Ventures provides structured, direct, hands-on support to scalable early-stage startups in West Virginia through an accelerator program that helps startups test critical assumptions, create prototypes and products, gain early traction with customers, and prepare to pitch investors. 

    Click Here

  • CRAN's Annual Member Meeting

    Country Roads Angel Network is West Virginia’s first accredited angel investment network. CRAN provides mentorship and early-stage investments in WV businesses. Their annual member meeting will be held on April 30th beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the Bavarian Inn’s Potomac Room.

Come and show your support.

Join us for Bridging Innovation Week's Competition Day, where the spirit of entrepreneurship comes alive! This exciting day showcases the innovative ideas of small business owners and entrepreneurs in West Virginia. Attend to witness groundbreaking ideas, offer your support, and connect with fellow community members. Best of all, it’s free to the public and no registration is needed. Be part of the vibrancy that fuels our local economy and celebrate those who are driving change in our region.

Competition Day Schedule

All competitions are free and open to the public. No registration required.

  • The Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN) will host their Annual Member Meeting on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, beginning at 8am at the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, WV.

    This event provides an opportunity to connect with fellow members, gain insights into CRAN’s impact on West Virginia’s entrepreneurial landscape, and explore new investment opportunities. We will review our growth over the past year, welcome new members, and engage with our expanding network of corporate and industry partners. This gathering will highlight the momentum and potential within our state’s startup ecosystem.

    This event is invitation only.

  • The 2024-2025 SparkWV Competition will feature twelve competing teams

    Big Idea Finalists:

    • FREE (Flood Release Emergency Exit) - Harrison County

    • Steel Healing Medical Equipment - Hancock County

    • Mingo Medical Solutions - Mingo County

    • Webster Wellness Works - Webster County

    • FlavorFinder - Cabell County

    • BetterPet - Cabell County

    Small Business Finalists:

    • Sabor de Venezuela - Hancock County

    • Stitch Studio - Berkeley County

    • Take Three Photography - Harrison County

    • We Love Together - Jackson County

    • AT Woodwork - Kanawha County

  • The West Virginia Innovation and Business Model Competition will take place from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and feature collegiate teams from across the state.

  • Local food trucks will be available on the Shepherd University campus for all attendees, finalists, and guests.

  • Join us for Vantage Validation Day, where our accelerator startups showcase what matters most: validated business models and evidence-based progress. Unlike traditional demo days centered on pitches, our founders will present concrete findings from their 13-week journey through the VV accelerator program—sharing key insights that shaped their business models and the real-world validation that guides their path forward. 

    For Entrepreneurs:     Witness practical validation methodologies in action and learn applicable strategies to improve your own startup's chances of success. 

    For Investors:      Discover opportunities backed by evidence rather than speculation, and observe firsthand how these founders respond to market feedback and build customer-centered businesses. Join us to see how these teams have transformed assumptions into validated business models ready for sustainable growth.

    Participating Startups:

    • Awesights

    • Capshock

    • Creative Studiosz

    • Drone Assist Services

    • Edge Connect

    • Empower Medical

    • Genaiva

    • Heirloom

    • Leafcrafters

    • Plug-In Promotions

    • The Athlete Store

    • USB

  • The following 2025 IgniteWV finalists will pitch live in the final round of the competition:

    Track 1: Main Street Finalists

    • Best Dam Tape

    • Hill & Holler Herbal Company

    • Nikola Lighting, LLC

    • The Dog Watchers

    • The Next Ridge

    Track 2: Tech/Innovation Finalists

    • Battle Buddy Bears, LLC

    • GLOBOL

    • Plug-In Promotions

    • Stud-IA

    • Toor Equestrian, LLC