Nine tech entrepreneurs displayed their commitment to innovation as they vied to win the Philadelphia Regional Startup World Cup Pitch Competition. The Philadelphia Department of Commerce hosted the competition at Temple University’s historic Mitten Hall on Sept. 18. 

“We are super excited about having this event here because it really highlights some of the amazing innovations coming out of not just Temple University, but Philadelphia and the region around Philadelphia,” said Josh Gladden, vice president for research and professor of physics at Temple. 

The Department of Commerce selected 10 local tech startups to participate in the competition. Nine of the regional finalists pitched their businesses before a panel of judges and a packed room of attendees. 

Nick Martin, co-founder of Carbon Reform, won the competition and netted a $20,000 prize. Martin’s Center City-based business developed a device that removes carbon buildup from the air. 

“To me it’s a true testament to the work that my team has put in over the past five years,” Martin said about the win. 

“These types of things are validation that I’m on the right path and that we’re doing something people care about.” 

Martin is heading to San Francisco to compete in the Pegasus Tech Ventures Startup World Cup, the largest tech competition in the world. He will pitch his business for the grand prize of $1 million dollars. 

“The $1 million prize is motivation enough for any entrepreneur, but the opportunity to pitch at the grand finale is really so much more than that,” said Sean Mastrodimos, associate director at Pegasus Tech Ventures. 

“You’re going to be pitching yourself in front of thousands of different investors, corporate partners and even potentially new talent who can help grow your company in so many different ways.” 

Two other entrepreneurs took home prizes, including Rahmi Halaby, chief executive officer at Ideate, who won $5,000 for placing second, and Simone Ammons, founder and chief executive officer at Qune Up, who won $2,000 for placing third. 

Halaby appreciated the opportunity to showcase his company during the event.  

“I’m definitely happy to not be walking away empty handed,” said Halaby, whose business specializes in offering an automated design operations solution. “We’re at an area where we’re pitching constantly right now, so just pitching a room full of people was great practice.” 

Other tech leaders participating in the competition included Ethan Berg, co-founder and chief executive officer at Agora World; Helena Jaramillo, co-founder and CEO of PamPam; Devin Abraham, founder and chief executive officer of Liiv Inc., Francesca K. Augustine, chief executive officer at Neftwerk Inc.; Mick Navin, co-founder and chief executive officer of UprightVR Inc.; and Lilly Chen, chief executive officer at FSH Tech. 

Some of the competing companies are affiliated with Temple including UprightVR, which provides a virtual reality solution for assessing fall risk; Agora World, which specializes in offering a metaverse design platform that enables users to create professional-quality 3D content; and Neftwerk Inc., which bridges blockchain technology with contemporary art markets. 

Geoffrey Wright, co-founder and principal scientist of UprightVR, said they were happy to have made it through the competitive process and be in the top 10 that were invited.  

“There were some great ideas, and the top winner was impressive, and given its potential environmental benefits it would be great to see such an impactful innovation do well at the national competition,” said Wright, professor of health and rehabilitation sciences in Temple’s College of Public Health. 

“It was also great to see a wide variety of innovative ideas with different potential impacts on so many slices of life, whether local or global impact, economic, arts, or healthcare. It was remarkable that the ideas came from so many young up-and-comers as well as seasoned entrepreneurs. And notably Temple was well-represented, which is a testament to the initiatives and support we have as well as the culture of innovation that has been created here.” 

For Berg, a 2020 graduate of the Fox School of Business, participating in the competition was a great experience. 

“Being selected as a top 10 finalist for the Philadelphia Regional Startup World Cup Pitch Competition provided a platform to showcase the innovative work we’re doing at Agora World, while also connecting with some of the most forward-thinking entrepreneurs and community leaders in the region,” said Berg.  

“The competition highlights the growing startup ecosystem here and I’m excited to be part of it.” 

He came away from the competition with some key insights. 

“One key takeaway is the importance of storytelling—not just pitching the product but weaving a narrative around why it matters and how it can truly make a difference. Another is understanding the balance between vision and traction—investors want to see both a bold future but focus on concrete progress and impact today,” Berg said. 

“Lastly, building a network with fellow competitors has been invaluable. I love learning from their experiences and exploring potential collaborations.” 

This marked the first time Philadelphia participated in this competition that was founded in 2017 by Pegasus Tech Ventures. The event is one of more than 100 regional pitch competitions held in 50 countries around the world.