On Monday, October 27, the town of Pittsboro, North Carolina, buzzed with entrepreneurial energy as ten ambitious startups took the stage for RIoT’s RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP) XXI Founder Showcase & Pitch Night. The event marked the culmination of an intense 12-week journey through one of the region’s most competitive and impactful accelerator programs—where technology, innovation, and community collide.
The RIoT Accelerator Program: A Launchpad for Innovation
Zach Hetzler, Founder & CEO of Verdia Dx, pitches his innovative diagnostic technology at the RAP XXI Founder Showcase & Pitch Night, October 2025.
Since its inception, the RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP) has become a prestigious and highly selective opportunity for early-stage companies across North Carolina and beyond. Each cohort represents a diverse group of innovators tackling some of today’s most pressing challenges through technology, sustainability, healthcare, and infrastructure solutions.
Participants gain access to RIoT’s extensive mentor network, hands-on educational sessions, and industry partnerships that fast-track their growth. The program’s hallmark is its combination of strategic guidance and tactical support—equipping founders not just to launch products, but to build scalable, sustainable businesses.
Traction and Growth: From Vision to Validation
The RAP XXI cohort embodied the accelerator’s mission of tangible progress. Over the course of the program, startups refined their business models, secured new partnerships, and tested their products in real-world pilots.
Several teams announced key milestones—from prototype launches to customer acquisition—and entered the showcase ready to share how far they had come.
- Mobile Surveillance Solutions delivered one of the most striking demonstrations of progress. The company’s monitoring platform saw uptime surge from 60% to nearly 100%. That leap in performance has driven customer confidence and demand for 40 new units, validating both the technology and its market need.
- SchedulerRX reached a critical milestone by moving from concept to a functional healthcare scheduling prototype now being used in a regional emergency department. This live pilot marks an important phase of product validation — gaining direct user feedback from clinicians and administrators to fine-tune the solution for broader rollout.
- Carolina Instruments advanced from research to real-world promise, earning a federal STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grant — a major validation of its innovation’s scientific and commercial potential. The award confirms that the company’s technology is not only novel but ready for the path toward market application.
- Nearby Nearby brought its local discovery platform to life with an initial launch right in Pittsboro, featuring the town’s first set of digital business profiles. The live rollout serves as both a pilot and proof of concept, providing real user insights critical for refining and scaling the solution.
- Verdia Diagnostics, the evening’s top prize winner, achieved global validation — earning recognition from the United Nations and placing in the top three at major pitch events in China and Italy, demonstrating a viable product.
- And Bingo Bard, which began as a creative concept, now boasts a working prototype piloted at two mid-size conferences. Those early trials not only validated the product’s potential but also provided real user insights critical for refining and scaling the solution.
Together, these stories illustrate the essence of RIoT’s accelerator: founders gaining traction, validating ideas, and propelling their startups toward sustainable growth.
Pitch Night Highlights: Innovation, Energy, and $12,000 in Awards
Before a diverse audience of investors, mentors, and community members, ten founders delivered their final pitches, each telling a story of grit, vision, and growth.
In total, $12,000 in awards were distributed during the evening:
Brian Barber, Founder & CEO of Mobile Surveillance Solutions, celebrates winning the audience vote at the RAP XXI Founder Showcase & Pitch Night, October 2025.
Judges’ Grand Prize ($2,000): Verdia Dx
Recognized for its innovation and market potential, Verdia Dx impressed the judges with its cutting-edge diagnostic solutions.
Audience Choice Award ($500): Mobile Surveillance Solutions
Voted the crowd favorite for its practical technology and compelling presentation.
RIoT Progress Award ($1,000): SchedulerRX
Honored for demonstrating the greatest total progress throughout the program.
Rural Business Awards ($1,500 each)
Thanks to generous support from Wells Fargo and NC IDEA, five rural companies—Crown Biome, InfraTechDC, Mobile Surveillance Solutions, Nearby Nearby, and SchedulerRX—received recognition and direct funding, totaling $7,500 in rural business support.
Community Partner Award ($1,000): Perch Coworking
With appreciation to NC IDEA, RIoT awarded Perch Coworking for hosting and supporting the cohort throughout the program.
Social Proof and the Power of the RIoT Network
Graduating from RAP means joining a thriving alumni network of over 150 companies that have collectively raised millions in funding and created hundreds of jobs. Alumni frequently collaborate, mentor new founders, and attract national recognition—underscoring the credibility that comes with the RIoT name. Sponsors and community partners like NC IDEA, Wells Fargo, and local coworking spaces amplify this impact, creating an ecosystem where innovation can thrive far beyond the accelerator walls.
What’s Next for the RAP XXI Founders
For these ten startups, Pitch Night wasn’t an ending—it was a launchpad. Many are already pursuing pilot programs, fundraising efforts, and product launches inspired by the feedback and momentum gained through RAP.
As they step into their next chapters, founders leave equipped not only with a stronger business foundation but also a deeper understanding of their “why”—the purpose that drives their innovation forward.
Why It Matters
The RAP XXI cohort gathers on stage at the RAP XXI Founder Showcase & Pitch Night, celebrating months of hard work, innovation, and entrepreneurial growth — October 2025.
Events like the RAP XXI Founder Showcase highlight what’s possible when communities invest in innovation. By bridging rural and urban ecosystems, supporting diverse founders, and accelerating high-impact startups, RIoT continues to fuel economic growth and technological advancement across North Carolina.
Every dollar awarded represents more than prize money—it’s an investment in the state’s entrepreneurial future.
Call to Action
Are you an entrepreneur ready to take your idea to the next level? Or a community leader who believes in supporting innovation where it starts?
Join RIoT. Learn more about the RAP program, connect with the RAP alumni network, or apply for the next cohort at riot.org.
Together, we’re building the future—one startup at a time.