Startup Weekend: Portsmouth Crowns Paw Portal as First-Place Winner!

From February 21-23, the SSU Kricker Innovation Hub was buzzing with entrepreneurial energy as teams worked tirelessly to bring their startup ideas to life at Startup Weekend: Portsmouth. Over the course of 54 hours, participants brainstormed, built, and pitched their ideas to a panel of expert judges, all while forming valuable connections and gaining real-world startup experience.

🏆 And the Winners Are...

Jevin Wilson and Isaac Halter took home first place with their business idea of Paw Portal.

🥇 First Place – Paw Portal

Paw Portal, developed by Jevin Wilson and Isaac Halter, took home the top prize for their internet-connected smart dog doors. Their innovative system allows pet owners to control where their dog has access inside the home with just the push of a button—offering convenience and flexibility for pet lovers everywhere.

🥈 Second Place – Approachable AI

Approachable AI, created by Joseph Horsley and Jeff Cooper, secured second place with their vision for an accessible AI solution for businesses. Their platform aims to make artificial intelligence integration seamless for business.

A Huge Thanks to Our Judges

Startup Weekend: Portsmouth wouldn’t have been possible without our esteemed panel of judges, who provided valuable feedback and helped select the winners:

  • Ann Yost – CFO, Yost Labs

  • Kelly Gordon – Director, ECDI Women’s Business Center of Central Appalachia

  • Gary Chaffins – Co-Founder, Innovative Consulting

Community Support Makes It Happen

A special shout-out to our incredible sponsors, whose generosity helped make this weekend possible:

  • ECDI Women’s Business Center of Central Appalachia

  • Schmidt Family Restaurant Group

  • Oddfellows Pizza and Pins

  • Toro Loco

  • Knead Noodles?

  • The Vault Gaming Arena

  • Market Street Cafe

What’s Next?

Startup Weekend: Portsmouth proved once again that innovation and entrepreneurship are alive and well in our community. As participants continue refining their ideas, we look forward to seeing where their ventures take them next. Whether it’s launching a business or applying lessons learned to future projects, the energy and creativity from this event will have a lasting impact.

Stay tuned for future events at the SSU Kricker Innovation Hub, and if you missed this round, we hope to see you at the next Startup Weekend: Portsmouth! 🚀

Kricker Innovation Hub