New Horizon Precision named spring semester Vol Court winner
An agricultural drone service, an AI-enhanced calculator and an app that tracks the energy of local nightlife secured the top three spots at this semester's Vol Court.
On Wednesday, students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) participated in a 90-second business pitch competition through the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI). Each semester, the ACEI hosts Vol Court, an educational experience designed to help students turn their ideas into a well-crafted elevator pitch. Students then present their pitches to judges in hopes of securing $1,500 in prize money.
The judging panel included Gregg Bostick with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC); Katelyn Biefeldt, managing editor of Teknovation; and Derrick Furlow Jr., co-founder of Onrise and a former Tennessee football player. Breanna Hale, executive director of the ACEI, moderated the event.
The Pitches
First Place: New Horizon Precision
New Horizon Precision, co-founded by Spencer Dore, is a Tennessee-based company that uses advanced drones to provide safe, accurate, and data-driven crop spraying for farmers in challenging terrains across the Southeast. The company differentiates itself by using licensed drones to apply exactly what is needed, where it is needed. This process minimizes waste and avoids soil compaction or crop damage, and unlike ground equipment, the drones do not get stuck in muddy conditions.
Second Place: CodeBrosAI
CodeBrosAI, co-founded by Simon Buhl, was created to help users “escape the matrix.” This calculator-turned-AI tool is designed to help students stay focused. While users often turn to generative AI platforms for problem solving, they frequently end up scrolling on social media instead. CodeBrosAI takes the phone out of the equation. Their refurbished calculators feature an advanced ChatGPT integration, easy messaging and seamless connectivity.
Third Place: Venuu
Venuu, co-founded by Noah Cooper and Michael Faragalli, is a platform designed for college social life. Similar to a Snapchat map, the app provides a visual of the “pulse” of bars and nightlife on different college campuses. Users can identify hotspots and receive live notifications when a location is winding down. This allows users to plan their night out and ensure they are always where the action is.
What’s Next?
These student entrepreneurs can now apply for the Graves Business Plan Competition. This 10-minute, in-person presentation offers a chance at significant startup funding. Prizes are awarded to the top three teams in each category: $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second, and $2,000 for third, with a total prize pool of $20,000 available each semester.
The robust funding and programming provided by the ACEI is proof that there are strong entrepreneurial resources in Tennessee already driving the next generation of innovators.
Stay tuned for Teknovation’s deep dive on first-place winner Spencer Dore with New Horizon Precision.
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