There’s something about a room full of people who believe — really believe — that a better version of the world is possible. That was the energy in the C. Shaw Smith 900 Room at the Alvarez College Union on the evening of April 21, 2026, as ten of Davidson College’s most ambitious student and alumni entrepreneurs took the stage for the 12th Annual Nisbet Venture Fund (NVF) competition.
Presented by the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the Nisbet Venture Fund is one of the most meaningful entrepreneurship programs Davidson College offers. With up to $32,500 in grants and investment on the line, the stakes were real, but what filled the room that night went well beyond dollars.
What Is the Nisbet Venture Fund?
The Nisbet Venture Fund is an annual business development program and pitch competition open to currently enrolled Davidson students and recent alumni. Established in 2014 through the generous support of Marian Nisbet, Chip Nisbet ’86, and Dany Nisbet, the program has spent more than a decade helping entrepreneurially minded Davidsonians turn curiosity into action.
But NVF is much more than a pitch night. Before taking the stage, finalists spend six weeks in paired mentorship with seasoned entrepreneurs and business professionals, attend group educational sessions, and get dedicated pitch practice, all designed to sharpen their thinking and build their confidence. This year, 22 volunteer mentors and entrepreneurship instructor Rebecca Weeks Watson helped guide each finalist to the stage.
This year’s competition was evaluated by two panels of judges. The Incubation Track was judged by Eric Fender, Juan Garzón, and Lindsay McClelland. The Acceleration Track was judged by Frances Allen, Andy Wheeler, and Cristina Wilson ’10.
The Tracks and Awards
The competition runs on two tracks that reflect where each venture is in its journey.
The Incubation Track is for early-stage ventures that had not raised more than $5,000 in funding or revenue at the time of application. Teams pitch for four minutes and compete for a $5,000 grant.
The Acceleration Track is for ventures that had demonstrated traction or raised more than $5,000. Teams pitch for seven minutes, followed by a three-minute Q&A with judges. The winner receives a $25,000 equity investment from Davidson College, structured as a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) agreement.
The Entrepreneurial Excellence Award ($2,500) is awarded by Hurt Hub staff to the team that demonstrated exceptional dedication to learning, mentorship, and growth throughout the entire program, regardless of where they placed in competition.
A Word Before the Pitches
Before the competition began, Hurt Hub Executive Director Liz Brigham ’04 took a moment to speak directly to the finalists and to remind everyone in the room what the evening was really about.
She drew on a now-famous parable from David Foster Wallace’s 2005 commencement speech at Kenyon College: two young fish swimming along, passing an older fish who calls out, “How’s the water today, boys?” The younger fish swim on, then turn to each other: “What the heck is water?”
Wallace’s point, Brigham noted, is that “the most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.” Most people never stop to question the water they’re swimming in. But these finalists had.
“You have made keen observations about the water you swim in,” Brigham told them, “and have chosen to ask why something is that way, what could be better about this water, and, most importantly, how YOU can make it better.”
She reminded the room that regardless of who took home funding, every finalist had already done something most people don’t: they got curious. They talked to people. They tried things. They experimented. They didn’t settle.
“Tonight is just one action that you have taken toward your life of leadership and service of your community,” she said. “I am so proud of each of you and the work you’ve done to get started, to get here, and to go wherever you’re off to.”
With that, she handed things over to Andrew Ashur ’19, the Hurt Hub’s Alumni Innovator-in-Residence, Founder and CEO of Lucid Bots, and MC for the evening, who guided the crowd through the competition with energy and warmth.
Meet the 2026 Finalists
Incubation Track
Align Stabilization | Eli Lacey ’29 | Mentor: Amartey Amarteifio ’05
Designed for individuals with patellar tracking disorder, ALIGN Stabilization created the ALIGN knee sleeve, a wearable medical device unlike anything currently on the market.
Aqualux | Dongjoo Ahn ’29 | Mentor: Joe Marko
Aqualux is a floating autonomous pool robot that continuously monitors water chemistry and precisely dispenses chemicals in real time, turning weekly pool maintenance into intelligent, continuous care.
CaryMadeThose | Jacary Lightsey ’27 | Mentor: Dwayne Sutton
CaryMadeThose transforms factory-made shoes and cleats into identity-driven, design-centric works of art, custom kicks at the intersection of culture, athletics, and self-expression.
Dunya | Zainab Sawani ’28 & Yurdanur Yolcu ’28 | Mentor: Gifton Gammon
Dunya is a travel-matching platform built specifically for women and gender minorities who want to explore the world but don’t feel safe doing it alone. Through curated communities and personalized matches, Dunya is making travel safer and more accessible.
Leap Water | Andrew Tashie ’26 | Mentor: Ana Henriques ’05
Leap Water is a still canned lemon water brand pairing spring water from Asheville, North Carolina with freshly sourced Italian lemons, better taste through better ingredients.
Youniform | Isaiah Sepand ’27 | Mentor: Mbye Njie ’04
Youniform is a mobile app that eliminates game-day uniform confusion for football teams. By giving coaches and players a centralized, visual platform to select and preview on-field apparel, Youniform makes sure everyone is in sync before they step onto the field.
Acceleration Track
CaseMock | Srijit Banerjee ’26, Anushri Modi ’26 & Vagmin Viswanathan | Mentor: Chris Tapia
CaseMock is an AI-powered interview simulator that lets candidates practice realistic job interviews on demand, making professional preparation accessible to everyone, anywhere.
Dermalytixs | Leeya Chaudhuri ’29, Arya Mody ’29, Casey O’Keefe ’29, Jennet Ylyasova ’29, Cal Ross ’29 & Maria Kemp | Mentor: Keith Kleeman ’97
Dermalytixs is developing a rapid, low-cost diagnostic test strip for the early detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, a potentially life-saving tool for clinical settings.
Mello | Joe Skoff ’20 & Cassie Gilmore | Mentor: Evan Rozantes
Mello creates mindful meditation experiences designed to fit into the windows of time teachers and families already have, including morning meetings, post-recess resets, bedtime wind-downs, and more.
Sarah Todd Style | Sarah Todd Hammer ’24 | Mentor: Brandon Aldridge
Sarah Todd Style is a fashion brand built around effortless dressing, offering confidence and femininity without the complexity. The brand is redefining what it means to get dressed with ease and intention.
And the Winners Are…
🏆 Acceleration Track Winner | $25,000 Equity Investment: Dermalytixs | Leeya Chaudhuri ’29, Arya Mody ’29, Casey O’Keefe ’29, Jennet Ylyasova ’29, Cal Ross ’29 & Maria Kemp
The Dermalytixs team impressed judges with their rigorous approach to a significant clinical problem, bringing a rapid, low-cost diagnostic strip for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections from concept closer to reality. Their depth of research and collaborative team dynamic made them a standout in a competitive field.
🏆 Incubation Track Winner | $5,000 Grant: ALIGN Stabilization | Eli Lacey ’29
Eli’s ALIGN knee sleeve stood out for tackling a real, underserved clinical need with a novel wearable solution, and for the clarity and conviction with which he presented his vision.
🏆 Entrepreneurial Excellence Award | $2,500 Aqualux | Dongjoo Ahn ’29
Dongjoo exemplified what the Nisbet Venture Fund program is all about, showing up fully, leaning into mentorship, and growing visibly from start to finish. His dedication throughout the program made Aqualux the choice for this award.
A Night to Remember
After the pitches, guests and finalists gathered downstairs in the Brown Atrium for a reception while judges deliberated. The evening closed with remarks from Marian Nisbet and Rebecca Weeks Watson before the award announcements brought the night to a joyful close.
The Hurt Hub extends its deepest gratitude to the Nisbet family for making this program possible year after year, to all 22 volunteer mentors, the speed mentors, and the production and event teams who brought the evening to life. And a special thank you to Andrew Ashur ’19 for bringing his trademark energy to the MC role.
If you missed this year’s competition you can watch the livestream recording.
Want to support the next generation of Davidson entrepreneurs? Visit hurthub.davidson.edu or make a gift at community.davidson.edu/giving/hurthub.
