Westside Pitch Finalists Announced

Meet the six finalists for the 2026 Westside Pitch Startup Business Competition!

These companies are tackling some of today's biggest challenges, from healthcare and education to AI, neuroscience, and workplace safety.

One company will receive an equitable investment, with additional cash prizes awarded to another standout team.

Come watch these innovative founders make their business case and experience the future being built right here in Washington County!

Thursday, April 23
5:30 pm - Light dinner will be served
Hidden Creek Community Center (5100 NE Hidden Creek Drive)

Get Tickets ($15)

Bayani Designs

Founder: Paolo Esteban
Website | LinkedIn

Bayani Designs is on a mission to reduce preventable hearing loss in high-noise industries-an issue affecting millions of workers and costing billions annually. Their work goes beyond compliance, focusing on long-term health impacts like cognitive decline, PTSD, and social isolation. This is innovation with real human impact.

Core Defender AI

Founder: Arun Sirimalla
Website | LinkedIn

Core Defender AI is transforming how K-12 students learn AI, coding, and robotics-safely and accessibly. Their platform solves a major challenge: schools want to teach AI, but existing tools often fail privacy and safety requirements. The result? Unequal access and a growing AI literacy gap. Core Defender AI is changing that with a kid-friendly, secure learning ecosystem.

Flowmind

Founder: Madeleine Parmenter
Website | LinkedIn

Flowmind is redefining what support looks like for adults with ADHD. Their AI-powered "second brain" helps users remember, prioritize, and act-without requiring the executive function that ADHD often disrupts. By reducing the financial and emotional "ADHD tax," Flowmind is tackling a massive, underserved need with compassion and smart design.

ImmunoCombinex

Founder: Sushil Kumar
Website | LinkedIn

Immunocombinex is advancing the next generation of cancer treatment through combination immunotherapies. By developing innovative antibody-drug conjugates designed to enhance immune response, they aim to improve outcomes for patients with hard-to-treat cancers. This is science at the frontier of saving lives.

Roxxem

Founder: Shawn Lee
Website | LinkedIn

Textbooks haven't kept up with how students learn, until now. Roxxem is building the first AI-native textbook, transforming videos and content into curriculum-aligned lessons and personalized assessments. The result? Smarter, evolving learning experiences tailored to every student.

Surge Motion

Founder: Gary Jin
Website | LinkedIn

Falls are one of the leading risks for older adults, and often preventable. Surge Motion's AI-powered wearable platform detects hidden balance, strength, and mobility issues before they lead to falls. This is proactive healthcare in action.

About Westside Pitch

Westside Pitch is a startup competition hosted in partnership with TiE Oregon for Washington County entrepreneurs seeking to showcase their early-stage businesses. Competitors will have the chance to pitch their business venture to a panel of local investors.

Now in its fifth year, Westside Pitch has become a leading platform for supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in Washington County. Designed to elevate promising startups, the program connects founders with investors, mentors, and the broader regional innovation ecosystem.

Over the past four years, Westside Pitch has invested or awarded approximately $150,000 to more than 15 local companies, in addition to helping founders access further capital, strategic mentorship, and increased visibility. As we look ahead to 2026, we anticipate continued growth in both applicant interest and audience engagement.

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