The atmosphere at Realist Lab’s Fall Demo Day on December 6th was nothing short of electric! Taking place at GE CoCreate in Stamford, the event marked a powerful moment in Connecticut's entrepreneurial landscape. The audience was captivated as nine Venture Launch Fellows took the stage to pitch their business ideas, vying for the grand prize of $25,000 to further develop their ventures.

Demo Day culminated the rigorous 12-week Venture Launch Program, offering founders an incubation period to refine ideas, craft strategic plans, and master the art of pitching. The entrepreneurs received support, mentorship, and guidance from industry experts and the Realist Lab team throughout the program.

Supported by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, guiding the proceedings were distinguished judges: Rowena Track, Michael Duda, Arthur W. Thomas III, Victoria Kennedy, and Kelly Corroon who leveraged their expertise to evaluate the pitches and ask questions to uncover more information about the entrepreneurial endeavors.

Celebrating Exceptional Winners

Taking the spotlight and the grand prize of $25,000 was Lauren LC Wells from Hervival®. Her commitment to empowering women of color through personalized coaching in nutrition, gut health, and spiritual wellness shone brightly, earning her well-deserved recognition and the grand prize.

Raicheen Blanks from The Worthonomics Company secured second place, earning $10,000. Her vision is to normalize women as investors through financial education and a dedicated financial technology app designed specifically for women garnered significant acclaim.

Paula Alonso of Sommlike claimed the $5,000 third-place prize for her innovative idea to revolutionize the wine marketplace. Her mission to leverage sommeliers and wine experts to guide customer purchasing decisions showcased ingenuity and promise.

Looking Ahead

Stay tuned as Realist Lab gears up to welcome a new cohort of entrepreneurs in the next round of the Venture Launch Program. Enrollment will open soon inviting more underrepresented founders to join this journey and start their path towards making their dreams a reality.