Summer Startup Program Pitchfest Winners 2025: Two Students from NKY Emerged Triumphant
The 2025 Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) Summer Startup Program concluded with an impressive showing, attracting a record-breaking 159 participants and tackling real-world problems such as mental health, lithium-ion battery disposal, and heart failure detection[1][2][3].
Held at the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics from June 22 to July 13, the three-week program aims to equip high school students from across Kentucky with entrepreneurial skills for lifelong impact[4].
The program's culminating event, the annual Pitch Fest, was expanded to two days this year. The competition saw numerous innovative ideas pitched, with the winners in the Hills League being announced as follows:
- First Place: Life Patch, an adhesive patch for heart failure detection, consisting of Cyrus Carver, Hamza Iqbal, Jacob Sipple, Wesley Tonn, and Anvika Vangala.
- Second Place: Li-ON, a solution for improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries, team members include Charlie Ma, Cade Rousey, Misha Badrinath, Nate Johnston, and Parker Davis.
- Third Place: VIBZ, a solution for social isolation in rural teenagers by providing gathering spaces, with team members Gaven Lakes, Sean Evans, Koen Hensley, Graciela Tovar, and Madelyn Vargas.
In addition, the Hills League winners of the Hollers League were not specified in the search results available[1][4]. For the detailed list of winners, the official press release or University of Kentucky’s Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship website would be the authoritative sources to check.
Other notable teams included Good Gear, solving buyer's regret in sports goods with a customized AI-powered survey, and Knot a Problem, a magnetic jewelry box that prevents tangled jewelry while traveling[5].
The program also saw a new three-year partnership between GSE and the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics, with UK Gatton hosting the GSE Summer Startup program through 2027[6].
Anne Jewell, president and CEO of GSE, stated that the skills developed and connections made during GSE Summer Startup provide meaningful, lasting benefits for the students and for the entire state[7]. Since its first year in 2013, GSE Summer Startup has graduated 1,258 high school students from more than 100 counties.
- The 2025 Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) Summer Startup Program, held at the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics, focused on equipping high school students with entrepreneurial skills for lifelong impact.
- The program addressed various real-world issues, including mental health, lithium-ion battery disposal, and heart failure detection.
- The program's culminating event, the annual Pitch Fest, was expanded to two days and saw numerous innovative ideas pitched, with teams like Life Patch, Li-ON, VIBZ, Good Gear, and Knot a Problem participating.
- The partnership between GSE and the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics was extended for three more years, with UK Gatton hosting the GSE Summer Startup program through 2027.
- The skills developed and connections made during GSE Summer Startup provide meaningful, lasting benefits for the students and for the entire state, as stated by Anne Jewell, president and CEO of GSE.
- Since its first year in 2013, GSE Summer Startup has graduated 1,258 high school students from more than 100 counties, reflecting its commitment to education and self-development, career development, online education, and personal growth.
- Lifelong learning, goal-setting, and skills-training are essential components of the program, helping participants prepare for their future careers and personal growth.
