Last week, I judged the Delta Entrepreneurship Network Pitch Competition, put on by the Delta Regional Authority at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. I saw a bevy of passionate entrepreneurs from great companies spanning the middle of the country from Missouri to Alabama. And while every startup demonstrated their undeniable value in the national startup ecosystem, two startups stood out as the winners of the pitch competition: Somavac Medical Solutions and HABERDAShe. Somavac Medical Solutions won the judged competition that took place on Tuesday. They are creating a wearable suction device for the removal and collection of post-surgical fluids after major surgeries, like mastectomies and hernia repairs, that affects more than 750,000 patients a year in the US alone. HABERDAShe, on the other hand, won the “Crowd Favorite” award at the showcase the following night. This company is a made-to-measure brand for women’s suiting using a virtual fit digital platform. 3D body scanning extracts customer measurements, virtual fitting rooms mimic the weight, and drape of the fabric so the customer can experience the garment on a personal avatar. Then, computer aided design software (CAD) allows us to make one garment at a time to each customer’s fit specifications. At the pitch competition, each of these startups had that intangible spark that you need to be success in the business world. Somavac’s team was diligent, prepared, and well-researched, all while pitching a product that would not only save money, but would also save lives. HABERDAShe, represented by Perry, demonstrated that passion and know-how can get you a long way, showing off her knowledge of the fashion world and the innovation that’s required to solve its biggest problems. Follow these startups, because they’re going places. Read more about the New Orleans startup ecosystem here on Tech.Co
