USPAACC 2020 What’s Your Pitch Innovation Competition Winners: Ichosia Biotechnology, NU-SET, Tipboxme

After much deliberation, judges of the 6th Annual USPAACC “What’s Your Pitch: Innovations Meet the Market” competition have selected the grand prize winner, and the second and third prize winners. Eleven finalists presented their innovations live, to a panel of subject matter expert judges, and before a virtual audience.

We had a fantastic response to the contest, as so many of our contestants took the time to complete and submit their applications, worked on their pitches, and competed at regional Rounds. In addition to innovative ideas, it took passion, time, patience, and practice to reach the Final Round; and we are so proud of them. Through this process, they have strengthened important muscles for the next opportunity!

Thank you to everyone who participated. You were all amazing rock stars! Each of the three winners will receive a cash prize, and most importantly, high-profile exposure to our Pitch Competition’s audience including investors, buyers and end-users looking for the latest in cutting-edge technology and innovation.

Winners for this year’s “What’s Your Pitch: Innovations Meet the Market” are:

$20,000

Solving the world’s blood crisis with genetic engineering, Ichosia Biotechnology has created an enhanced red blood product through novel genetic engineering techniques. With its innovative genetic engineering methods and now new red blood product, Ichosia Biotechnology will look to further its industry partnerships with hospital blood bank directors and R&D partners in the medical and health fields to directly sell to and create its first adopters.

$10,000

With customers like Amazon, Home Depot and Grainger, NU-SET has developed a security and lock solution, “Eyecon.” Removing the need for physical keys, NU-SET and Eyecon use blockchain technology to create a solution and platform to safely manage the security of your physical spaces (construction site, real estate, commercial property management).

$5,000

In a cashless world, Tipboxme is making it easier for hospitality workers to receive tips, using QR and barcodes that customers can scan, then add gratuity at their discretion. Guests are in a hurry, without cash and don’t have the time to stop and tip. Tipboxme is an easy, fast, solution for hospitality service workers to receive those tips.

A special thanks goes out to our What’s Your Pitch Finals Round moderators and judges:

• Michael Herrera – Program Manager, Supplier Diversity & Development, Southern California Edison
• Terry Hsiao – Director, Washington DC MIT Alumni Angel Group
• Catherine Cai, Vice President, Palm Drive Capital
• John “Jack” Bienko, Chair of Presidential Management Alumni Association
• Mike Chop, Designer: Conversational Interaction, Apple

Additional thanks go out to preliminary and semifinal round moderators and judges:

Northeast & DC Preliminary Round:

• Khoa Le, CEO & Founder, KVibe Productions
• Nick Hsu, Partner, Palm Drive Capital
• Catherine Cai, Vice President, Palm Drive Capital
• Ryan Silvestre, Sr. Business Consultant, America’s SBDC New Jersey

Southeast Preliminary Round:

• Lissa J. Miller, Chair of the Board, Truist Bank
• Deepak Banahatti, CPSM Global Category Director, Trane Technologies
• Chris Langford, Partner, IDEA Fund Partners
• Nakia Melecio, Founder & CEO, iDesign Innovation Project

North California & Midwest Preliminary Round:

• Mike Chop, Designer: Conversational Interaction, Apple
• Gail Gannon, Managing Director, Wave Edge Capital
• Harry Cendrowski, Founding Member & Managing Director, Cendrowski Corporate Advisors
• Michael Cleavenger, Not-For-Profit Development Representative, Cendrowski Corporate Advisors
• Jason Kashyap, Marketing Consultant
• Scott A. Vowels, Expert in Procurement and Supplier Diversity, Apple

South California Preliminary Round:

• Michael Herrera, Program Manager, Supplier Diversity & Development, Southern California Edison
• Joyce Huang, Business Account Manager, Southern California Edison
• Bach Tsan, Audit Engineer, Southern California Edison
• Will Vicent, Proud Member, Southern California Edison

It is the aspiring founders, Lucas Vining of Ichosia Biotechnology, Caron Ng of NU-SET, and Sudhanshu Luthra of Tipboxme that are driving innovation, pushing competition, and will create economic growth. We know it is your hard work, dedication and perseverance that will drive your future success. The Pan Asian American community is excited for your future contributions to the vitality of the American economy. USPAACC is excited for all of you and we have high hopes for your businesses in the future. Congratulations to Ichosia, NU-SET and Tipboxme. Your awards and recognition are well deserved. Thank you for being innovators. We expect to hear from and see you again