Presented by W.C. Bradley Co.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 23rd as StartUP Columbus brings you a bold new era of entrepreneurship in the Chattahoochee Valley area. Experience the debut of LaunchCon presented by W.C. Bradley Co., a one-day conference packed with keynote speakers, hands-on panels, and a live pitch competition presented by Fin Sync awarding $40,000 in prizes. Please note, the convention portion of the event is TICKETED, while the evening pitch competition is FREE and open to the public.
Created by StartUP Columbus, LaunchCon is the next evolution of the city’s acclaimed BizPitch event, now reimagined to spotlight innovation, funding, and founder-focused programming.
What to Expect
•Expert-led panels on funding, growth & innovation
• Networking with founders, funders & business leaders
• Actionable insights you can use right away
• Live pitch competition presented by FinSync with $40K in prizes. This evening event is FREE and open to the public
Event Details
Date: October 23, 2025
Conference Time (ticketed): 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Pitch Competition Time (free): 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: The Columbus Convention and Trade Center
Attire: Business Casual
Launchcon PITCH Competition presented by finsync
Don’t miss the pitches after the conference ends!
$40,000 in prizes. Four finalists. One shot to launch their dream.
Come watch our four finalists pitch, shark-tank style, in front of five judges for a chance to win. This event is FREE and open to the public.
September 12 – “What Gets You Funded” | Round 3 Workshop
September 29 – Semi-Finalist Pitches | (10:30am - 12:00pm EST)
October 6 – Top 4 Finalists will be notified if they will advance as finalists in the pitch competition.
October 23 - 2025 LaunchCon Winners and Runner-ups are selected from 5-judge panel.
Important Pitch
Competition Dates
Congratulations to our 2024 BizPitch Columbus winners!
Post-Revenue Category Winner
Garrett Stigall of Pool Protection Technologies
Meet Garrett Stigal, a recent graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in engineering. He brings over a decade of hands-on experience in the pool industry, having started at age 11. A Georgia native, Stigall’s Pool Protection Technologies offers sustainable, practical solutions to common pool maintenance challenges, exemplifying his deep industry knowledge and commitment to innovation.
Pre-Revenue Category Winner:
Thomas Lester of The Earlybird Co.
Meet Thomas Lester, a Senior at Auburn University studying Industrial & Systems Engineering with a minor in Business Engineering Technology, founded The Earlybird Co. LLC and Heatstream Solutions. His ventures focus on self-heating technology, reflecting his innovative spirit and technical expertise. Outside of his entrepreneurial pursuits, Lester is a Thomas Walter Fellow, a Phi Gamma Delta Brother, and an avid golfer who enjoys cooking and family time.
