StartUP Columbus, in partnership with the D. Abbott Turner College of Business and Technology at Columbus State University, is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 LaunchCon Pitch Competition presented by FinSync.

Mya Swaby, founder of MindMunch, was awarded the Grand Prize for her innovative gamified screentime manager that turns screen time into study time. Tara Harris, founder and CEO of FemeFlex, earned Runner-Up, recognized for creating the world’s first pantiless panty liner and redefining feminine hygiene through comfort, innovation, and confidence. Ed Norris, founder of PromoMob, took home the People’s Choice Award for his custom design and manufacturing company that helps brands transform ideas into standout physical products.

The competition, modeled after the hit television show Shark Tank, was the culminating event of LaunchCon presented by W.C. Bradley Co., Columbus’s first-ever entrepreneurship conference. The day-long event brought together founders, investors, students, and community leaders for panels, workshops, and networking sessions centered around innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

“This event represents the next chapter in Columbus’s entrepreneurial growth,” said Ben MacMinn, Executive Director of StartUP Columbus. “LaunchCon builds on the momentum of our city’s startup ecosystem, offering founders not just a stage to pitch, but a community that believes in their ideas and is ready to help them grow. Mya, Tara, and Ed exemplify the creativity and drive we see emerging across this region.”

The finalists pitched live to a panel of judges including Lou Childs, Co-Founder of SlumberPod, a company founded locally who contributes a portion of their startup success to participating in StartUP Columbus’ first ever programming; Mark Davis, Senior Director of New Business Ventures at W.C. Bradley Co.; Britnee Wheeler, Founder of Rose Maternity Co.; Crystal Pendleton Shahid, Market President at Truist Bank; and Nick Smith, Chairman & CEO of Smith Companies, LLC.

Presented by FinSync, the LaunchCon Pitch Competition awarded cash prizes and in-kind support to help the winners further develop their ventures. The competition capped off a full day of programming that featured keynote speaker Jay Bailey, President & CEO of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, and opening speakers Lou Childs and Katy Mallory, founders of SlumberPod, who shared their journey from startup founders to Shark Tank success.

“By bringing together visionaries, mentors, and investors under one roof, LaunchCon strengthens Columbus’ position as a hub for innovation in the Southeast,” added Dr. Deborah Kidder, Dean of the D. Abbott Turner College of Business and Technology. “We’re proud to support events like this that empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to take bold ideas from concept to reality.”