Congratulations to the 2025 Awardees

We are proud to announce the 2025 IgniteWV awardees! Thank you to all the incredible teams who competed in the final round on April 30, 2025, during Bridging Innovation Week at the Frank Center Theater, Shepherd University. The competition showcased remarkable innovation and creativity, highlighting the hard work and dedication of all the participants. You can watch the full live video coverage of the pitch competition here.

Track 1: Main Street Awardees

Best Dam Tape, Award Amount: $21,000

Logan Cuvo, Founder

Best Dam Tape is a company specializing in high-performance hockey tape designed to meet the rigorous demands of the sport. Their product line includes clear and cloth hockey tapes engineered for superior stretch, adhesive strength, and durability, ensuring equipment stays securely in place during intense gameplay. They also offer a subscription service, allowing players to receive regular shipments of their preferred tape products, ensuring they are always prepared for the game.

Hill & Holler Herbal Company, Award Amount: $11,000

Caroline Nicholas, Founder

I established Hill & Holler Herbal Company to celebrate my mountain heritage, reconnect with old family traditions, and revive the practice of old-fashioned Appalachian herbalism. I handcraft tea blends, medicinal salves, lip balms, and other body care items using organic herbs from local sources, including foraged herbs from the woods around my home. 

Hill & Holler Herbal Company champions accessibility and sustainability, making items like specialty teas and sustainable products more approachable to local audiences while actively working to preserve both the culture and ecosystems that make West Virginia wild and wonderful.

Nikola Lighting LLC, Award Amount: $36,000

Luke McConnell, Founder

Nikola Lighting LLC was founded by Luke McConnell, driven by a passion for lighting design and creating unique, well-lit spaces. In 2023, Luke started the business from the ground up, working out of his parents’ old Suburban van, going door to door, and leaving handmade flyers. He made sure to present a professional image, always wearing branded polos to represent his business. As his passion for lighting grew, so did the business, prompting Luke to invest in a work vehicle to improve service efficiency and expand operations.

Today, Nikola Lighting specializes in landscape, architectural, holiday, and display lighting for residential and commercial properties. Our focus is on delivering high-quality products, expert installations, and personalized service that results in long-lasting designs. At Nikola Lighting, we believe lighting is more than just functional; it’s about creating memorable moments, enhancing spaces, and providing hands-on, customer-first service. As the company grows, so does our commitment to excellence, teamwork, and transforming spaces through exceptional innovative lighting solutions.

The Next Ridge, Award Amount $36,000

Rush Holt & Julia Holt, Founders

The Next Ridge is a small, family-owned mobile veterinary practice that opened in September 2023, serving the greater north central West Virginia area.

They specialize in providing high quality, end of life care to pets in their home environment.

Track 2: Tech/Innovation Awardees

GLOBOL, Award Amount: $30,000

Jack Feuer & Patrick Callaway, Founders

Globol is a personalized travel companion mobile app, designed to replace the clutter and stress of 20+ travel apps. It combines essential tools like maps, translation, currency conversion, and eSIM management with real-time safety alerts, offline access, and built-in personalized AI agents—so solo travelers can explore smarter, safer, and more connected than ever before.

Globol has already built strong early traction, with over 2 million followers across all platforms and a network of 200+ influencers collectively reaching more than 30 million users. We were selected out of 300+ applicants for Season 1 of Create.xyz Start-Up Competition, validating both our product vision and team.

Plug-In Promotions, Award Amount: $50,000

Seth McLain & Connor Briggs, Founders

Plug-In Promotions installs charging stations with digital ad screens, keeping customers connected while helping businesses reach their audience. Each station provides a vital service—charging phones, engaging customers, and delivering targeted advertising where it matters most.

Plug-In Promotions achieved an impressive 372% year-over-year growth in its first year, demonstrating the scalability and demand for its advertising platform. In just 6 months, the company expanded to 36 venues across 4 cities, serving ads for 40+ local businesses in 2024 and generating over $60,000 in its first year. This strong growth trajectory underscores Plug-In Promotions’ ability to scale efficiently, with plans for nationwide expansion driven by data-backed market strategies.

Toor Equestrian LLC, Award Amount: $20,000

Eva Toor, Founder

Toor Equestrian is redefining equestrian gear with thoughtfully designed products that put riders first. Our high-performance helmet prioritizes safety above all, offering protection without compromising on comfort or style. Alongside the helmet, Toor Equestrian offers the Tiny Tack Room saddle stand—combining durability and convenience for organizing tack and gear, whether at the barn or on the go—as part of an established product line built to support riders in every aspect of their journey. With a focus on quality, design, and functionality, Toor Equestrian is committed to helping equestrians stay prepared, organized, and focused.