Our 2020 virtual conference featured our top 10 pitch finalists who shared their innovative new ideas with an emphasis on kingdom impact. Learn more about each of these companies and our judges below. As a member, you can view their full pitches with follow-up questions from our judges as well as post deep dive events. As an accredited investor, you can learn more about each company by visiting their profile page.
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2020 Pitch Company Finalists
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Immerse helps English "knowers" become confident English speakers. Our VR English training platform aims to activate English fluency through immersive speaking experiences so you can thrive at work and in life.
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Aura Health features mindfulness meditations, stories, life coaching, and so much more. With thousands of empowering & resonating audio tracks, Aura has just what you need every day, and constantly learns what works for you.
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SpringboardVR offers headset management, content distribution, and commercial licensing for Enterprise, Education, and Location-Based Entertainment (VR Arcades). Currently serving over 500 companies in 40+ countries.
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Evidencity connects international buyers with local knowledge and data collections capabilities. Our global networks brings you as close to our local providers as possible via anonymous and secure messaging so that you can find the information you need to do business.
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Carpenter's Code Inc, is a high caliber team of technologists focused on solving big problems using biblical truth. Abide sells premium content subscriptions on the Abide meditation app.
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Avodah has accelerated technology capabilities to translate oral and written languages as well. This has resulted in a unique technology today that can answer to all modes of communication, and once learned, can do it in real time.
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Living Water Express Car Wash is an express exterior tunnel car wash (the kind that washes cars in a 100+ foot tunnel but does not involve employees touching the cars at all). Each customer receives the ability to use free self-serve vacuums and mat cleaner. We also offer a 24/7 self-serve pet wash.
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At Noblewood, we are committed to providing beautiful, high-quality interior products that are produced with care for people and the environment. Our wood panels are handmade by skilled artisans from wood that has been rescued and repurposed, bringing a natural beauty to your home or workspace.
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Datapoint Media Group creates inaudible data packaged into audio tracks of all media. Our technology solves multiple industry needs in Radio, Film, Television and Live Events. We bring the speed of digital feedback to traditional forms of media and entertainment so they can compete in a digital world.
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Moleculera Labs is a precision medicine company with a clinical laboratory blood test that directs treatment for individuals suffering from neuropsychiatric and behavioral disorders caused by an infection-triggered immune dysfunction.
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Judges Panel
Kurt Knapton
Former CEO Research Now |
Beto Pallares
Board Advisor Exagen, Inc. |
Aimee Minnich
Chief Impact Officer Impact Foundation |
Grant Van Cleve
Executive Chairman Buy It Installed, Inc. |
Tom Lernihan
Senior Analyst His Fund |
Eliot Kerlin
Senior Partner & Chief Structuring Officer Insight Equity |
Kurt Knapton
Kurt is a business leader and impact investor who helps equip and encourage entrepreneurs. He is the former CEO of Research Now (rebranded Dynata) the world’s largest first-party data and insights platform. Kurt invests in and advises a portfolio of early-stage growth companies through Realm Resources to achieve “triple bottom line returns” (e.g. financial, social and spiritual). Kurt also serves on the Board of Edify, a non-profit that provides entrepreneurs in 11 developing countries with training, capital and technology to grow their schools.
Kurt is a business leader and impact investor who helps equip and encourage entrepreneurs. He is the former CEO of Research Now (rebranded Dynata) the world’s largest first-party data and insights platform. Kurt invests in and advises a portfolio of early-stage growth companies through Realm Resources to achieve “triple bottom line returns” (e.g. financial, social and spiritual). Kurt also serves on the Board of Edify, a non-profit that provides entrepreneurs in 11 developing countries with training, capital and technology to grow their schools.
Beto Pallares
Ebetuel "Beto” Pallares is the fund manager of two early stage tech venture capital funds, as well as an investment advisor to a family office based in El Paso, TX. Beto has a particular interest in seed and early-stage companies with emphasis in the biotechnology, enterprise software, material sciences, and nanotechnology sectors. He serves on the board of a number of tech companies and the limited partnership advisory committees of several venture funds, as well as on the board of Exagen, Inc. (Nasdaq: XGN). He is the board chair of the non-profit organization, Success Through Technology Education (STTE) Foundation, which is focused on STEM education and entrepreneurship for middle school and high school students in the Southwestern United States. Beto is on the board of the Latino Business Action Network (LBAN), which in turn collaborates with the Stanford Graduate School of Business to identify, select and mentor LatinX entrepreneurs to scale their businesses through the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (SLEI).
Ebetuel "Beto” Pallares is the fund manager of two early stage tech venture capital funds, as well as an investment advisor to a family office based in El Paso, TX. Beto has a particular interest in seed and early-stage companies with emphasis in the biotechnology, enterprise software, material sciences, and nanotechnology sectors. He serves on the board of a number of tech companies and the limited partnership advisory committees of several venture funds, as well as on the board of Exagen, Inc. (Nasdaq: XGN). He is the board chair of the non-profit organization, Success Through Technology Education (STTE) Foundation, which is focused on STEM education and entrepreneurship for middle school and high school students in the Southwestern United States. Beto is on the board of the Latino Business Action Network (LBAN), which in turn collaborates with the Stanford Graduate School of Business to identify, select and mentor LatinX entrepreneurs to scale their businesses through the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (SLEI).
Aimee Minnich
Aimee Minnich serves as Chief Impact Officer and General Counsel of Impact Foundation that provides a new kind of donor advised fund purpose-built for impact investing. Prior to founding Impact Foundation, she served as President and General Counsel for the National Christian Foundation, Heartland. A recovering attorney, Aimee earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law with honors and a BA in Philosophy, summa cum laude, from Rockhurst University. In addition to “The Profitable Charity,” she's published a boring law article and a study of the metaphysics of salvation. Aimee and her husband Marshall live with their three adorable and high-energy kids and sweet old dog in Kansas city. Aimee loves serving on the boards of two local nonprofits that seek to make the city an even better place.
Aimee Minnich serves as Chief Impact Officer and General Counsel of Impact Foundation that provides a new kind of donor advised fund purpose-built for impact investing. Prior to founding Impact Foundation, she served as President and General Counsel for the National Christian Foundation, Heartland. A recovering attorney, Aimee earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law with honors and a BA in Philosophy, summa cum laude, from Rockhurst University. In addition to “The Profitable Charity,” she's published a boring law article and a study of the metaphysics of salvation. Aimee and her husband Marshall live with their three adorable and high-energy kids and sweet old dog in Kansas city. Aimee loves serving on the boards of two local nonprofits that seek to make the city an even better place.
R. Grant Van Cleve
Upon discovering faith at Wharton, Grant left behind business plans in order to serve in post-Communist Eastern Europe for 19 years. Over time, though, he discovered Business As Mission (BAM), and began a business incubator and industry leading real estate development company in his host country of Albania. Upon returning to his native California, USA in 2010 he dove deep into catalyzing local startups – actively involved in 73 venture deals, serving as Chairman of the venerable Tech Coast Angels OC, Managing Partner of Hangar 75 Ventures, and Executive Chairman of believer-led Buy It Installed, Inc. Grant pours time into catalyzing the entrepreneurial ecosystem locally and in the developing world, and can be found in leadership roles in his church and in local politics. He is a regular on the list of 50 most influential people in Orange County.
Upon discovering faith at Wharton, Grant left behind business plans in order to serve in post-Communist Eastern Europe for 19 years. Over time, though, he discovered Business As Mission (BAM), and began a business incubator and industry leading real estate development company in his host country of Albania. Upon returning to his native California, USA in 2010 he dove deep into catalyzing local startups – actively involved in 73 venture deals, serving as Chairman of the venerable Tech Coast Angels OC, Managing Partner of Hangar 75 Ventures, and Executive Chairman of believer-led Buy It Installed, Inc. Grant pours time into catalyzing the entrepreneurial ecosystem locally and in the developing world, and can be found in leadership roles in his church and in local politics. He is a regular on the list of 50 most influential people in Orange County.
Tom Lernihan
Tom Lernihan is a senior analyst for His Fund, a venture capital fund that strategically invests to generate employment opportunities for those in poverty while also addressing the world’s greatest social concerns. Tom’s responsibilities include leading the due diligence for all potential investments, support and management of the existing investment portfolio, and reporting on overall spiritual, social, and financial performance. Previously, Tom spent four years investing and revitalizing residential real estate and eight years as a project manager for a commercial general contractor.
Tom Lernihan is a senior analyst for His Fund, a venture capital fund that strategically invests to generate employment opportunities for those in poverty while also addressing the world’s greatest social concerns. Tom’s responsibilities include leading the due diligence for all potential investments, support and management of the existing investment portfolio, and reporting on overall spiritual, social, and financial performance. Previously, Tom spent four years investing and revitalizing residential real estate and eight years as a project manager for a commercial general contractor.
Eliot Kerlin
Eliot is a Senior Partner and the Chief Structuring Officer at Insight Equity. Eliot joined Insight in 2005 and brings more than 20 years of private equity investing and corporate finance experience to the team. His responsibilities include sourcing and structuring investments as well as leading Insight’s ongoing oversight and value creation efforts at a number of portfolio companies. During his time with Insight, Eliot has led numerous acquisitions and financings in the United States, as well as Canada, Mexico, Australia, Sweden and Norway. Prior to Insight Equity, Eliot served as Turnaround Manager for Bay State Paper Company while the company was in Chapter 11.
Eliot is a Senior Partner and the Chief Structuring Officer at Insight Equity. Eliot joined Insight in 2005 and brings more than 20 years of private equity investing and corporate finance experience to the team. His responsibilities include sourcing and structuring investments as well as leading Insight’s ongoing oversight and value creation efforts at a number of portfolio companies. During his time with Insight, Eliot has led numerous acquisitions and financings in the United States, as well as Canada, Mexico, Australia, Sweden and Norway. Prior to Insight Equity, Eliot served as Turnaround Manager for Bay State Paper Company while the company was in Chapter 11.
