iVenture Accelerator Startup Therapalz Wins Pitch Competition

Therapalz, an iVenture Accelerator student startup that make smart therapeutic companion animals to enhance the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia, won the Saint Louis University Real Elevator Pitch Competition on December 4. Each team pitched their idea to the judges on 10 different elevator rides that lasted approximately 45 seconds each and Therapalz took home the top prize of $2,500.

“Being part of iVenture has been an incredible experience,” said Fiona Kalensky, Therapalz co-founder. “It has allowed me to be part of a cohort of other student startups as well as discover the entrepreneurship scene at Illinois. Having minimal business background, I have had the wonderful opportunity to learn about startups, meet successful entrepreneurs, network and gain mentors.”

Therapalz is the second team to win the SLU Real Elevator Pitch Competition. Cast21, an student startup now in EnterpriseWorks, won the 2015 SLU competition.

“Prior to going to the competition, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ashley Moy of Cast21,” said Kalensky. “She encouraged us to ride the elevators with our prototype and I think that was excellent advice. Since there was limited time, having a rough, tangible prototype instantly allowed for the judges to connect the concept of Therapalz to a potential product.”

Interested in learning more about Therapalz? Check out this link to her what co-founder, Fiona Kalensky, has to say. 

Read the full article here.