We’re honored to announce that FiberX has taken home first place in the Life Sciences/AgTech category at the 15th Annual Innovation Showcase Pitch Competition, hosted by the Venture Club of Indiana. This prestigious event, which took place on July 13, 2023, brought together 19 of Indiana’s top startup companies to compete for recognition and substantial prize money.
In a high-stakes pitch competition that attracted over 500 attendees, including investors and industry leaders, FiberX stood out among fierce competition. Our innovative approach to transforming corn stover into valuable feedstock for the chemical and materials sectors caught the attention of the distinguished panel of judges, earning us the top spot and a $10,000 prize.
FiberX President and CEO, Dave Skibinski, shared his thoughts on this significant achievement:
“Winning first place at The Innovation Showcase is a tremendous honor and a testament to the hard work and innovation of our entire team at FiberX. This recognition from such a respected panel of judges and in front of Indiana’s vibrant startup community validates our mission to create sustainable solutions that benefit both farmers and the environment. The $10,000 prize will be instrumental in accelerating our growth and bringing our technology to market. We’re proud to contribute to Indiana’s thriving AgTech ecosystem.”
The Innovation Showcase, now in its 15th year, is known for connecting investors with Indiana’s top startups. This year’s event featured an impressive lineup of judges, including Kelley Rich from the University of Notre Dame IDEA Center, Sherry Aaholm from Cummins, Inc., and Patrick Henshaw from Render Capital. Companies were evaluated on criteria such as the breakthrough nature of their product or service, market size and competitive advantage, team strength, go-to-market strategy, and commercial traction.
Our success at this event is particularly meaningful as it highlights the potential of our technology to revolutionize the AgTech sector. By creating new value from corn stover, we’re not only offering innovative solutions for the chemical and materials industries but also opening up new revenue streams for farmers.
This win further solidifies our position as a leader in sustainable agricultural innovation and demonstrates the growing recognition of our technology’s potential impact.
We’re grateful for the support of Elevate Ventures, who nominated us for this competition, and for the broader Indiana startup ecosystem that continues to foster innovation and growth in our state. Events like The Innovation Showcase play a crucial role in connecting startups like FiberX with potential investors and partners, helping to fuel the next wave of technological advancements in Indiana and beyond.
As we move forward, we’re more motivated than ever to continue developing our technology and expanding our partnerships with farmers and industries that are searching for petroleum replacement as a feedstock component of their products. This recognition from The Innovation Showcase serves as a springboard for our next phase of growth, and we’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
We extend our congratulations to all the other innovative companies that participated in the showcase, particularly our fellow winners in both the Life Sciences/AgTech and Digital Innovation categories. Your groundbreaking work contributes to making Indiana a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Stay tuned for more updates as we put this award and prize money to work, advancing our mission to create sustainable, value-added solutions for agriculture and industry!