At the 12th Annual 2025 INCubatoredu National Student Pitch Event in Chicago, five student entrepreneur teams were selected to present their startup ideas to a panel of investors. From 60 teams submitting entries, these five finalists had the unique opportunity to compete for $25,000 in funding to build their businesses.
Five teams competed at the 2025 INCubatoredu National Pitch:
HoldMate, Barrington High School, IL, Teacher: Hagop Soulakian
Job-Z, Westlake High School, TX, Teacher: Jeffrey Nixon
Roam Travel LLC, Naperville North High School, IL, Teacher: Gene Nolan
Shimmer Shield, Prospect High School, IL, Teacher: Chad Froeschle
Spikey LLC, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, TN, Teacher: Jeremy Qualls
Panel of Judges:
Michael Miles, Co-Founder Uncharted Learning, Private Equity Investor
Katherine Duncan, Founder and CEO of Katherine Anne Confections
Johnny Palumbo, INCubatoredu Alum, Founder of Simplify Tech
Gerald Smiley, Founder & CEO
Charlotte Trecartin, Founder and CEO of CharCharms, Entrepreneur
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2025 winners:
$8,000 to Shimmer Shield
Shimmer Shield is a jewelry protectant spray for teen girls that prevents tarnishing and rust by coating jewelry in a clear, invisible seal.
$17,000 to Spikey LLC
Spikey’s discreet keychains are equipped with clinical-grade test strips that detect common date rape drugs in seconds, empowering individuals to stay safe in social settings.
Thank You
Thank you for investing in our future leaders! These students benefit immensely from the dedication of their teachers and INCubatoredu volunteers, who generously contribute their time and expertise to support their journey.
