Oxford Honors Entrepreneurial Talents at CoBuilders Business Pitch Competition

Oxford Celebrates Local Business Innovation at CoBuilders Competition

In the vibrant city of Oxford, excitement filled the air as the winners of the recent Oxford CoBuilders Business Pitch Competition were announced! This event, held on June 12 at the UM Innovation Hub at Insight Park, showcased remarkable entrepreneurial talent from the Oxford area. Teams had the opportunity to present their innovative ideas to a panel of judges made up of local business owners and investors.

First Place: PleXignal LLC

The big winner of the day was Dr. Premalatha Balachandran, who took home the first-place prize along with a generous $7,500 cash prize. Dr. Balachandran, who holds a Ph.D. and an MBA, co-founded a pharmaceutical research and development startup named PleXignal LLC. This groundbreaking company aims to streamline the drug discovery process through its innovative multiplex molecular model (MMM) technology.

So, what’s this technology all about? Well, it allows researchers to target multiple signaling pathways within a single assay, making the drug discovery process not only faster but also more efficient. This reduces the likelihood of drug failures during the crucial early stages of screening and target validation. Talk about a game changer in the pharmaceutical industry!

Dr. Balachandran is not alone in this venture. She is joined by her husband, Karthik Ken, who will take on the role of CEO. With over 35 years of startup experience, he’s sure to steer PleXignal towards great success.

Second Place: Automatic AI

Julien Bourgeois and Andrew Bradford, with their company Automatic AI. They are shaking things up in the world of sports with their innovative smartwatch applications. Their flagship product, Automatic Basketball Trainer, launched in July 2023, utilizes the motion sensors of the Apple Watch to track and analyze basketball shooting workouts. As a rising junior at the University of Mississippi, Bourgeois is certainly making waves!

Third Place: BeWell Health

Dr. Mac Nichols of BeWell Health, a clinic redefining what it means to provide comprehensive, holistic, and personal healthcare. Dr. Nichols embodies the innovative spirit that this competition sought to promote.

A Supportive Community

Mississippi Small Business Development Center, the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation, and the University of Mississippi Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Other Notable Finalists

Keiona Jackson and Nancy Brownlee from the Mississippi Occupational Culinary Institute, Terrence Green Jr. of TJ’s Animation Workshop, and Worth DuPerier from The Pickleball GameChanger Dink.

A Warm Community Spirit

Looking Ahead

If you’re curious about CoBuilders and economic development opportunities in the Oxford area, feel free to reach out to Allen Kurr at 662-234-4651 or visit their website for more information.

As Oxford continues to foster innovation and support local startups, there’s no doubt we’ll be hearing more incredible stories from this charming town!