Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

Knoxville Business News Tennessee Mountain Scenery Background
September 20, 2023 | Tom Ballard

VetVerifi wins “3686 Pitch Competition”

The start-up has vaccination records of 250,000 pets in its database.

Five presented during the pitch competition that wrapped up formal programming for the 2023 edition of the “3686 Entrepreneurship Festival” on September 20, the judges selected the top two, but all five start-ups are eligible for funding of up to $150,000 under the new “InvestTN” program.

As Launch Tennessee‘s Khrys Hatch explained ahead of the announcement of the judges’ decision, U.S. Department of Treasury guidelines require that investment decisions be made under fairly rigid and exact rules.

VetVerifi of Nashville captured the judges’ vote as the best of the five. As pitched by Co-Founder David Servodidio (pictured left), the company enables instant, verified proof of vaccination for pets, better connecting veterinarians with their pet care partners, from pet services to emergencies to housing. He said the start-up has 250,000 pets in its database and helps veterinarians keep up with the demand for verifications from pet care companies, pet insurance providers, and apartment complexes that require proof of vaccinations before people can move in.

Kayla Rodriguez Graff, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SweetBio in Memphis, was runner-up. The start-up is focused on using collagen and Manuka honey for a line of wound care products. The first product is for dermatological applications following Mohs surgery for skin cancers. Graff said the company is hoping to secure U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in about six weeks that will allow it to sell an over-the-counter version.

Other competitors were:

  • ATS Innovations of Shelbyville, inventor of the MetaFlex Therapy Glove;
  • Giggs of Nashville, a centralized hub where touring professionals, production companies, and other music industry professionals can connect, collaborate, and discover opportunities; and
  • Potluck, also of Nashville, is described as the next-generation party planning app that simplifies the process of figuring out who’s bringing what.

 

 

 



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