Hear from aspiring Alaskan entrepreneurs!

Co-hosted with the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, the Alaska Airlines Pitch Contest brings together aspiring entrepreneurs who will pitch their business venture to a panel of experts, as well as the ultimate panel – Innovation Summit attendees! Pitch contestants will have 5-6 minutes to pitch their business plan in front of attendees who will crowdfund a cash prize for the winner to take home at the end of the session.

Pitch Contestants will have access to materials and resources on how to make a pitch as well as have the opportunity to practice and be coached by a seasoned entrepreneur.

Application Deadline: January 28, 2025

Previous Pitch Contest competitors include: Amalga Distillery, Attently, Renewable Energy Alaska Project, Coppa, The Sawmill Farm, Tundra Tonics, Salty Lady Seafood Co., Kartorium, Sitkana, and AirVitalize.

2025 Pitch Contest Winners!

Virginia Peterson

SWOOP

Gabriel Low

Remote Hands

SWOOP is a women-led athleisure brand designed by a nurse for life on the go. Founded in Alaska, SWOOP creates ultra-comfortable, stylish, and functional apparel inspired by the outdoors and built for active women, including healthcare workers. With a focus on quality, fit, and unique patterns, SWOOP’s products—ranging from bras to tunics—offer a perfect balance of support and ease, making them ideal for long shifts, adventure-filled days, and everything in between. Rooted in community and innovation, SWOOP is on a mission to redefine comfort without compromising style.

Remote Hands is transforming how organizations maintain their technical infrastructure across rural Alaska by building a network of skilled local technicians in communities statewide. Our community-based approach means no more expensive fly-out visits or prolonged downtimes—just rapid, professional support from qualified technicians who live where you need them. We’re not just solving technical problems; we’re strengthening Alaska’s rural economies by creating opportunities for local talent while helping organizations dramatically reduce their service costs.

Meet the 2025 Pitch Contestants

Aktta Patel

Adivo

Dave Sauter

49th State Birds

Keith Cox

Biolume Technologies

Adivo is the on-demand solution for handyman services, designed for the modern, instant-access world. Just like Uber connects riders to drivers and DoorDash delivers food at the tap of a button, Adivo instantly connects users with nearby taskers who are available to work right now. Finding help can be a challenge, Adivo bridges the gap—ensuring that when you need a job done, you’re not left waiting. Whether it’s a quick repair, or an odd job, Adivo makes hiring a tasker as seamless as possible. Adivo—where tasks meet timeliness.

49th State Birds is a mixed poultry farm in North Pole, Alaska, focused on solving Alaskan problems through research and learning. We are focused on producing ideas and products that help promote sustainability in Alaska. The current product being evaluated, Kelp-based Alaskan Poultry Feed, seeks to provide quality options for small producers while consuming large quantities of products from other related industries, giving them the needed runway for sound development.

Biomarkers play a crucial role in assessing physiological states. Traditionally, biomarker testing has been slow, costly, and reliant on biochemical assays, hindering real-time monitoring. Bialume is transforming this process by utilizing electricity for rapid, digital, and accessible biomarker detection. Originating in food safety, Bialume Technologies is expanding into healthcare, fisheries, agriculture, and consumer health, offering real-time, cloud-connected, AI-driven insights on health biomarkers. Our technology enables precise, non-invasive measurements—be it at home, in clinics, or in the field—making biomarker monitoring proactive, scalable, and affordable.