20Fathoms is pleased to announce the four companies selected to compete at the TCNewTech pitch competition on February 24, 4:30 – 7:30 pm, at the City Opera House in Traverse City.

Pitch presenters:

Vanly
Vanly is a marketplace that helps RV travelers book convenient overnight parking outside, in, and around downtowns, events, and local attractions. Hosts monetize underused space like lots, driveways, and small business parking, while travelers get a simple, reliable place to stay close to where they want to be. By making RV visits easier, Vanly drives incremental visitor spending to downtown restaurants, shops, and entertainment. The Vanly pitch will be presented by Matt Larson.

Bullie
Bullie is an AI-powered productivity platform built for people who feel overwhelmed, burned out, and stuck despite trying countless planners and apps. Through natural conversation, behavioral memory, and adaptive accountability, Bullie responds to how users actually behave, offering encouragement or pressure when it’s needed most. Instead of passive reminders, Bullie acts like a real assistant, helping users break cycles of avoidance and regain a sense of control in their daily lives. The Bullie pitch will be presented by Victoria Runstrom and Babak Khajeh.

MeetingMaker
MeetingMaker is a geolocation-based mobile app which allows people with substance use-related offenses to discreetly verify attendance for recovery meetings and other court-specific probation requirements. It then provides courts with meaningful reporting, allowing them to reliably track compliance of those requirements for their caseloads. The MeetingMaker pitch will be presented by Jodie Schanhals.

Automations Nirvana
Automations Nirvana designs and implements AI automations into small and medium-sized businesses with a focus on AI voice applications. These applications are designed for use as receptionists, business support, lead qualification, booking appointments, and scheduling. Our focus on AI voice agents helps small and medium-sized businesses capture more revenue by answering every call 24/7 and eliminating missed opportunities. The Automations Nirvana pitch will be presented by Ben Montgomery.

The pitch presenters will compete for a $5000 first place award, $2000 second place award, and $500 audience favorite award.

Pitch presentations will be judged by a panel of local startup experts including:

• Beth Cavanaugh, Principal Consultant and Communications Strategy Director at TiER1 Performance
• Brad Repke, Senior Associate at Breneman Advisors
• Jen Szunko, Co-Owner at Discovery Cruises, and
• Eric Warnaar, Regional Banking Relationship Manager at Huntington National Bank.

In addition, the audience will vote on their favorite pitch. The event will be moderated by Madison Meter.

Beyond the Pitch

A Startup Expo will also be held in the lobby of the City Opera House before and after the competition. In addition to the pitch competition, the event will include a presentation from Justin Gauthier on deterministic AI. There will be an afterparty at Identity Brewing.

The community is invited to attend this fun and inspiring event. There is no cost to attend.

About TCNewTech

A program of 20Fathoms, TCNewTech is a recurring pitch competition supported by tech enthusiasts, businesses, and entrepreneurs. Founded in 2015 as a way to connect local tech professionals, TCNewTech is a critical component in Traverse City’s growing startup community. Since its founding, more than 250 companies have pitched and nearly $50,000 in pitch prizes have been awarded.

TCNewTech is made possible through the generosity of community partners including Presenting Partner Celly Health and Supporting Partners SJA Solutions, Honor Bank, Grand Valley State University, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, RJG, AccessPoint, a Venture Employer Services Company, Aurora Patents, MSUFCU, and Up North Healthtech.