Here is the agenda for the TVLIC Fall 2024 event on December 6th, 2024. Further below you will find the pitch schedule for competitors and the list of finalists which will be updated in real-time during the course of the competition.
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Semifinals in Rowling Hall classrooms
12:30 PM- 1:30 PM – Lunch in RRH 5.210
1:00 PM – Announcement of Finalists RRH 5.210
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Finals in Crum Auditorium
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM – Fireside Chat While Judges Deliberate
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM – Awards Ceremony
6:00 PM – Reception and Networking
Division I- RRH 5.402
9:00 AM: Facilimax
Facilimax is an interactive digital twin platform designed to solve the problems of mission-critical operations such as data centers. We do this by Optimizing Energy Efficiency, demonstrating Scalability, Enhancing Reliability, Providing Visualization through a 3D Interface for management and business insights, Controlling Inventory, Managing Vendors and Performing Site Feasibility for test-fitting and capital improvement planning. Amy Polvado, MSTC, McCombs School of Business, 2025
9:35 AM: Akture
CraZed Entertainment is an LLC based in Austin, Texas, under which Akture is operated. Akture is a unique video capture and distribution system designed to bring professional-quality sports footage to the recreational athletics market in an easy-to-download file that can be saved or shared. Christopher Abad-Jacobi, MD, Dell Medical School, 2026
10:10 AM: Music Box Events
Music Box Events offers a unique blend of creativity, community building, and music by providing music lessons for parties and groups. We provide concierge event planning through a flagship, hands-on event that engages participants of all ages, allowing them to paint their own ukulele and learn to play this accessible and joyful instrument. Our services are designed to improve mental well-being, foster social connections, and provide a fun, memorable experience for individuals, groups, and organizations. Mackenzie Shafer, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2026; Myna Sharma, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2026
11:20 AM: Avid
For busy and health-conscious consumers who love gardening and can’t seem to get it right or simply don’t have the space, Avid makes growing fresh, pesticide-free food as easy as pressing a button. Tell our app what you want to grow, insert our seed pods, and watch for notifications to add more water. Avid automates the rest so you don’t need to have the time or green thumb to do so yourself. Fred Lindseth, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2026
11:55 AM: Trinity Tube
Infants born extremely prematurely present significant clinical and population health challenges. Advances in clinical vital sign monitoring can potentially drive improvements in survival and long-term outcomes in this vulnerable population. Our company provides a multifunction feeding tube that includes wireless vital sign monitoring and quantified metrics of work of breathing by sensors embedded in a feeding tube indwelling inside the esophagus and stomach instead of using irritant skin-mounted sensors. Trinity tube is the next-generation solution for neonatal vital sign monitoring. Iman Salafian, Mechanical Engineering PhD., Cockrell School of Engineering, 2025
Division II- RRH 5.408
9:00 AM: Knitted Sensing Wearables
Our knitted sensing wearable supports at-risk patients who need continuous monitoring of their swallow behaviors by providing a comfortable, unobtrusive assessment tool that requires no supervision and can be used in natural settings. Unlike traditional bedside swallow evaluations, which are often subjective, or imaging diagnostics requiring specialized equipment, our wearable offers 24-hour recordings that capture swallowing events clinicians may miss during sessions or that patients may fail to report. This helps identify potential risks early, improving quality of life by offering peace of mind, maintaining patient mobility, and reducing the need for constant clinician supervision. David Zhang, Mechanical Engineering PhD., Cockrell School of Engineering, 2026
9:35 AM: Flux
Flux leverages AI to automate executive functioning tasks for people with ADHD to improve their overall quality of life. Megan Taylor, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2025
10:10 AM: Ziz AI
We all addicted to our phones and accustomed to the infinite scroll whether it be TikTok, Netflix, or the News. Some have proposed trying to pull you off your phone with screen reminders which still haven’t solved the issue. Instead, we are creating an infinite scroll of custom AI generated fictional stories catered to your interests. Our platform will allow users again and again to dive into their own literary landscapes creating better mental health outcomes, breaking filter bubbles, and saving people from their doom loops. Joshua Hoffman, MS in Computer Science, College of Natural Science, 2025; Carson Molder, PhD. In Computer Science, 2026
10:45 AM: Zeez
Zeez is a sleep solutions company that manufactures and distributes premium portable mattresses and sleep accessories for households and outdoor enthusiasts. Air mattresses on the market today are uncomfortable, unreliable, and unpleasant, and we can build a better product that focuses on excellent materials and a premium experience. Wes Barlow, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2026
11:20 AM: MagSuture
MagSuture positions itself as the premier provider of arthroscopic suture retrieval solutions, designed to meet the demanding needs of modern healthcare professionals. By integrating magnetic technology into suture retrieval systems, we redefine procedural efficiency and precision, establishing ourselves as the trusted partner for surgeons seeking to elevate their practice and improve patient outcomes. MagSuture bridges the gap between traditional methods ensuring reliability, performance, and superior results in every procedure.
11:55 AM: Brown Bag Games
For sports fans who want to engage in exciting, risk-free competition and win real-world prizes, Brown Bag Games provides skill-based sports challenges that combine the thrill of sports predictions with RPG-style progression. We are flipping the field on sports gaming through personalized leveling systems, collectible rewards, and unique game modes. Spencer Payne, MSTC, McCombs School of Business, 2025
Division III- RRH 5.420
9:00 AM: Revel Athletic
We make grip socks for Pilates and Barre workouts. Unlike most grip socks on the market that lose their stick quickly, ours retain stickiness wash after wash thanks to a proprietary grip pattern with a larger surface area. Additionally, our designs appeal to a buyer that has largely been overlooked in this market – one that wants their socks to match their outfit, style, and sense of playfulness. Sarah Dixon, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2025
9:35 AM: Avanza Fintech
Colombia ranks as the 8th largest motorcycle market in the world. Over 40% of buyers are low-income individuals who cannot afford to pay for a motorcycle in a single payment. Many are unable to secure traditional bank loans due to a lack of credit history or formal banking records. As a result, they often resort to unregulated financing options, which can affect their financial well-being and safety. Avanza offers a fair credit solution, providing financing for low-cost, productive assets such as motorcycles to individuals without a formal credit history or employment. This is made possible through our predictive, non-traditional data credit scoring system. Rafael Quintero, MSTC, McCombs School of Business, 2025
10:10 AM: Knot Robotics
Knot Robotics is revolutionizing hair care by creating a robotic braiding solution for salons and stylists. For people seeking faster, affordable, and authentic braiding services, Knot Robotics offers robotic arms that replicate complex braiding techniques with speed and precision. Powered by AI, haptic feedback, and computer vision, our solution reduces braiding time by 4x, enhances stylist efficiency, and expands access to culturally significant hairstyles while preserving authenticity. Chisom Okwor, MS in Artificial Intelligence, CDSO, 2026
10:45 AM: Brrrista Cold Brew
Brrrista has developed a patented, one-hour cold brewing method, reducing the typical 24-hour process to just 60 minutes. We’re targeting premium coffee shops and discerning customers seeking a top-tier product. Our solution addresses common challenges for high-volume cafes, including limited space, time constraints, cleaning hassles, and the inconsistent quality often found with traditional 24-hour brewing. Brrrista’s innovation allows shops to brew on demand, with reliable quality and efficiency. Sam Stein, MBA McCombs School of Business, 2025
11:20 AM: Keenu
Crypto retail investors struggle to stay profitable. As new investors come onboard, they lack access to right resources to make informed decisions. This is because they’re unaware of where to look for this information, there are too many outlets, and the information is not exactly easy to understand. With Keenu, we’re looking to solve this problem by finally addressing crypto’s UX problem and creating a portfolio manager that bring all and only necessary resources to the user. Keenu will provide users with tailored insights and recommendations based on their portfolios, market indicators in an ELI-5 language, and UX that web3 hasn’t seen yet! Siddharth Badyal, M.S. in Information Technology and Management, McCombs School of Business, 2025
Division IV- RRH 3.310
9:35 AM: GPT Prompts Project
For individuals and organizations looking to optimize their use of OpenAI’s GPT technology, GPT Prompts Project provides an open platform to explore, share, and create highly optimized prompts. By leveraging user contributions and advanced AI tools, the platform makes prompt generation accessible and engaging. With features like prompt editing, favorites, and an open library, GPT Prompts Project empowers creativity and productivity in the AI space. Jeet Chaudhuri, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2026
10:10 AM: Surge Analytics
Surge Analytics empowers businesses with an AI-native approach to data analysis. Replacing cumbersome spreadsheets and complex BI software, our natural language interface enables anyone to gain valuable insights from their data. Surge leverages modern design principles and machine learning to offer superior capabilities over other data transformation tools at a lower price point. We aim to enter this $10B+ market by providing small and medium businesses a high-quality option for accessible analytics. Harish Batra, MS in Data Science, CDSO, 2025
10:45AM: Cocarbon
Cocarbon is tackling the global water crisis. We sustainably produce activated carbon from agricultural waste, a powerful water treatment solution. Our focus: remote regions lacking infrastructure. Cocarbon brings clean water cost-effectively, eliminating reliance on expensive tankers and the diseases they bring. Solar-powered, CO2-capturing, and creating local jobs, Cocarbon offers a replicable model for global impact. Aldo Galli, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2026
11:20 AM: Paradigm Robotics
Paradigm Robotics is an Austin, Texas based robotics startup building advanced and versatile robotic platform solutions to provide mission critical situational awareness for firefighting, disaster response, industrial/manufacturing, and other industries. Our mission is to paradigm shift the field of robotics by bridging advanced, accessible, cutting edge robotics with real-world hazardous landscapes, providing needed, critical solutions to the most dangerous and persistent problems out there. We build robots that go where humans can’t. Krishnan Ram, MS in Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, 2025
11:55 AM: CerebroSonics
CerebroSonic is reshaping stroke care with rapid imaging for precise diagnosis and monitoring, minimizing life-threatening delays. Tackling the immobility and lack of real-time imaging of CT and MRI, CerebroSonic integrates surgical robotics technology with ultrasound-based imaging in a wearable device. This system provides CT-like reconstructions of brain vasculature and parenchymal structures, reducing mistriages, enabling repeated ICU monitoring, and automating long-term monitoring. CerebroSonic aims to significantly reduce stroke-related disability and mortality across the continuum of care. Bharat Mathur, PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, 2026
Division V- RRH 3.406
9:00 AM: SpeciaList Health
Patients struggle to find high-quality specialist physicians, often endure months-long wait times for appointments, and receive impersonal care. In response, many patients are turning to new healthcare models, such as concierge medicine, which has gained popularity in primary care but remains untapped in the specialty care market. SpeciaList Health is the first platform for concierge specialty healthcare. For a quarterly fee, our platform connects patients with high-quality doctors and guarantees a VIP experience. Anna Fabrizio, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2025
9:35 AM: RetireUS
For individuals seeking retirement clarity but hesitant due to complexity, high costs, or concerns about finding a trustworthy financial professional, RetireUS simplifies financial planning and provides access to conflict-free human guidance. Our digital-first platform connects users with independent Certified Financial Planners (CFPs), leveraging proprietary streamlined technology to deliver fast, affordable, and personalized human guidance through subscriptions starting at just $40/month. Michael Scarpati, MSTC, McCombs School of Business, 2025
10:10 AM: Cash Prodigies
For students and families who lack essential financial literacy education, Cash Prodigies provides innovative learning solutions that build money management skills and financial confidence. Our company accomplishes this through engaging in-school workshops and AI-powered animated content, using a unique blend of culturally-relevant storytelling, experiential learning, and McCombs MBA expertise to make financial education fun and accessible. Jordan Washington, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2025
10:45AM: Longhorn Life Sciences
Longhorn Life Sciences Inc. is a MedTech company developing needs-driven solutions to improve patient outcomes and experiences. Our technology, “iDetect”, is a wound monitoring system for remotely detecting infections in post-operative cancer patients. The system will reduce the subjective burden on patients to accurately report their symptoms and improve clinical coordination. iDetect will reduce surgical site infection cost burden by enabling proactive intervention, de-escalating costly, intensive care, and increasing hospital system throughput. James Clarke, PhD in Physics, College of Natural Sciences, 2024
11:20 AM: Jiva
Chat GPT in the Supply chain domain. For supply chain managers in distribution centers and grocery stores facing high levels of perishable food waste, our company provides an easy-to-use platform that reduces waste and boosts efficiency. We do this by offering an interactive decision-making tool that integrates seamlessly with existing systems, empowering managers to make quick, data-driven decisions without disrupting workflows. Our unique question-and-answer interface delivers fast, actionable insights, making our solution a powerful driver of cost savings and sustainability. Likith Reddy Chintala, MS in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, 2025
11:55 AM: Greeni Tahini
Greeni Tahini is a vibrant, nutrient-rich, green tahini sauce packaged in a convenient squeeze bottle. Despite its health benefits, tahini has not achieved mainstream popularity in the US. Traditional tahini is often seen as bland, packaged in jars, and associated mainly with Middle Eastern cuisine, limiting its broader appeal. Chaz Zayed, MBA, McCombs School of Business, 2026
Elevator Pitch Schedule- Crum Auditorium (RRH 1.400)
9:10 AM Avanza Fintech
9:15 AM flux
9:20 AM Music Box Events
9:25 AM Cash Prodigies
9:30 AM (Break)
9:35 AM Jiva
9:40 AM SpeciaList Health
9:45 AM Facilimax
9:50 AM Knitted Sensing Wearable
9:55 AM Ziz AI
10:00 AM Revel Athletic
10:10 AM Brrrista Cold Brew
(10 minute break)
10:20 AM Avid
10:25 AM Rahm Sensor Development (withdrew)
10:30 AM Akture
10:35 AM MagSuture
10:40 AM RetireUS
10:45 AM Keenu
10:50 AM GPT Prompts Project
10:55 AM Paradigm Robotics
11:00 AM Trinity Tube
11:05 AM Brown Bag Games
11:10 AM Surge Analytics
11:15 AM CerebroSonic
11:20 AM Greeni Tahini
(10 minute break)
11:30 AM Longhorn Life Sciences
11:35 AM Zeez
11:45 AM Cocarbon
11:50 AM Knot Robotics