Startups Battle For Top Honors At Benzinga Competition: Who Won The $2,500 Grand Prize? (CORRECTED)

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that ANJA BioSciences won the “People’s Pick” at the Benzinga Startup Spotlight event.

In a recent virtual event, Benzinga's Startup Spotlight allowed four emerging startups to present their ideas for a $2,500 prize in a high-stakes competition. This showcase brought together innovative entrepreneurs and a panel of seasoned investors, offering a platform for these startups to pitch their concepts and vie for financial backing and industry recognition.

Here’s What They Had To Offer

Nik Hulewsky and Chris Koerner from Cofounders.com served as judges for the event, and Caroline Strzalka, co-founder and COO of Overplay, started the presentations. She introduced her platform, which converts videos into interactive games. “Our tool makes it possible for users to create engaging experiences without needing coding skills,” Strzalka explained. Overplay has attracted investment from Mark Cuban and seeks to expand its reach further.

Jacob Akopian presented VenHub, a solution to transform the retail experience through AI-powered automation. "VenHub addresses key issues in retail, like high operational costs and labor shortages," Akopian noted. With substantial pre-orders already secured, VenHub is positioned to impact the retail market greatly.

Kevin Wan, the founder of Xtrades, highlighted his platform's role in providing actionable market understandings. “Xtrades offers a transparent and interactive environment for traders, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions,” Wan said. His platform leverages real-time data to create a robust trading experience.

Joel Stanley, CEO of AJNA BioSciences, focused on his company's mission to develop FDA-approved botanical pharmaceuticals. Stanley emphasized, “AJNA BioSciences is dedicated to harnessing the therapeutic potential of plants and fungi to advance medical treatments.”

Who Won?

Hulewsky remarked on the impressive quality of the presentations, noting, "The creativity and potential shown by these startups are truly remarkable." Koerner added, "Deciding on a winner was challenging due to the high caliber of each pitch."

Overplay emerged as the winner of the $1,250 “Judge’s Pick” prize for its compelling presentation and innovative approach. AJNA BioSciences secured an additional $1,250 as the “People’s Pick” based on audience voting, reflecting strong support from viewers who believe in the company's leadership and its mission.

Read Next:

• NBA Legend Shaq Missed His Tesla Cybertruck So Much, Instead Of Shipping It From Vegas To Atlanta, He Reportedly Ordered One More

Image: Shutterstock.