Pitch to the Pack 2026
Everything you need to know about the 2026 Pitch to the Pack competition — winners, judges, sponsors, and more!
Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Pitch to the Pack competition. A total of 13 awards were presented, including 8 awards determined by judges’ scores and 5 selected through audience voting. The Andrews Launch Accelerator and First Flight Venture Center Coworking Membership awards were granted to the highest ranking eligible teams, while Audience Choice Awards recognized ventures outside of the Top 5 finalists.
2026 Judges’ Awards
First Place
+ Andrews Launch Accelerator Award & First Flight Venture Center ‘First Class’ Coworking MembershipZach Hetzler
Verdia Diagnostics
Verdia Diagnostics has developed a sensor that is able to preemptively detect diseases in greenhouse plant populations. Second Place Rysa Ruth
Halftime Stitches
Halftime Stitches is a solution to the current lack of unique, stylish women’s sports merchandise. Third Place Toni Toomey
Hone
Hone crafts Biocompatible luxury nursingwear using Italian natural fibers to bridge professional ambition and maternal health with plastic-free silhouettes. Fourth Place Erika Ford & Cheryl Wooten
Nicelle Technologies
Nicelle Technologies is advancing safer, cleaner acrylic fiber solutions for textiles and carbon-fiber applications. Fifth Place
+ Andrews Launch Accelerator AwardLainey Volz
The Lainey Volz Button Cup Shirt
The Button-Cup Shirt is a button-up designed for women who wear a D cup or larger.
2026 Audience Choice Awards
Most Innovative Becky Koch
Up Until 5
Up until 5 is an apparel brand for women 5’0″ and under, using anthropometric data to provide proportion-based fits where everything finally fits. Most Practical Patty Secoura
The Vetband
The Vetband is a soft, flexible anchor for esophagostomy tubes, providing a breathable, protective alternative to bulky bandages that improves pet comfort and hygiene. Best Community Impact Killian Nowrey, Joe Martingdale, Emily Nowrey
RuckSox
Veteran-engineered merino wool socks that eliminate blisters for military and law enforcement, utilizing a localized Carolina supply chain to improve mission readiness. Most Sustainable Prathik Gunturu & Jade Lowe
Somni
Somni is a wearable sleeve that uses AI-integrated sensors to track sleep cycles and provide real-time temperature regulation, optimizing sleep quality and comfort. Best Presenter Katie Watson
Campus Closet
Campus Closet is a peer-to-peer platform for college students to securely rent and sell event wear locally, turning fragmented social media trends into a structured circular fashion ecosystem.
Finalist Pitches
Experience the top student-led ventures from the 2026 Pitch to the Pack. These finalists showcase the next generation of textile innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship at NC State.
- Pitch the Pack (Full Event Video)
- Verdia Diagnostics | Zach Hetzler
- Halftime Stitches | Rysa Ruth
- Hone | Toni Toomey
- Nicelle Technologies | Erika Ford and Cheryl Wooten
- The Lainey Volz Button-Cup Shirt | Lainey Volz
- The Vetband | Patty Secure
- RuckSox | Killian Nowrey, Joe Martingdale, Emily Nowrey
- Somni | Prathik Gunturu and Jade Lowe
- Campus Closet | Katie Watson
2026 Judging Panel
Our finalists were evaluated by a distinguished panel of industry veterans, entrepreneurs, and academic leaders. We thank these experts for their time and insight in selecting the 2026 award recipients.
Day-Of Judges
Andy Albright
President and CEO, National Agents Alliance Corporate
Molly Hemstreet
Executive Co-Director, The Industrial Commons
Carmen Maye Lucas
District Branch Network Senior Manager, Wells Fargo