20Fathoms announces the winners of the September 29 TCNewTech pitch competition.
Luigi Solutions LLC won the First Place Award, from the judges panel, receiving an award of $5,000.
Luigi Solutions LLC pitch was presented by founder Kalob Hagen. Luigi Solutions is building Luigi OS, an AI platform that lets nontechnical business owners build and own custom software, powered by Luigi Codes, their fine-tuned coding model. Unlike other tools in this category, Luigi OS requires a guided question flow before any code is written, tests against the customer’s real records rather than sample data, and holds a gate that either passes or does not publish.
Novelty AIR, LLC was selected as the Audience Choice award winner, taking home $500, along with a $1,000 finalist award. The Novelty AIR pitch was presented by Peter Lane. Novelty AIR is building the next generation of FAA Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician schools through a technology-enabled, hybrid education platform. By eliminating the traditional requirement for large centralized campuses, they dramatically reduce startup costs while expanding access to high-quality aviation workforce training nationwide. Their mission is to solve the growing shortage of FAA-certified aircraft maintenance technicians while creating a scalable platform for workforce development.
Codura and New Earth Network, LLC also received $1,000 finalist awards. Finalist awards recognize the time and energy that all pitch participants invest when pitching at TCNewTech. Codura, presented by founder Chris Krieg, builds low-cost, solar-powered smart buoys providing real-time wave and water data across the Great Lakes region. New Earth Network, LLC, presented by co-founders Dagny Monette and Lori Perkins, offers an ad-free, member-supported social platform designed for the conscious living community.
For the second consecutive event, all pitch participants were local to Northern Michigan marking significant progress in our region’s ongoing momentum to foster scaling startups, empower homegrown talent, and build a thriving regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.
TCNewTech is made possible through the generosity of community partners including Lead Partner SJA Solutions, Presenting Partners Honor Bank and Huntington, and Supporting Partners Aurora Patents, Brightly, Baird: The Rivard Teahen Wheatley Group, Grand Valley State University, Lyon QA, MSUFCU, and UpNorth Healthtech.
TCNewTech winner Kalob Hagen of Luigi Solutions, LLC holds the first prize check alongside the night’s other finalists.
