Tune in and be part of the excitement 🚀
Join us live for the IgniteWV Final Round as innovative founders take the stage to pitch their ideas and compete.
đź“… Wednesday, April 29
⏰ 12:45 PM
đź“Ť Streaming on the WVEE YouTube channel
Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the future of entrepreneurship in action. Link in bio to watch!
Meet Jacob Burcham, founder of Storefront AI!
“I was laid off after 8 years in SaaS, but it pushed me to finally take the leap I’d been putting off. I started building my own tech company in Nov 2025, focused on helping merchants sell through AI, something I saw coming from years in digital payments and AI.
I’m proud to be building this in WV, giving back to the community that’s supported me, and hopefully creating something that makes a real impact.”
Storefront AIÂ will be competing in the Tech & Innovation track in the final round of the competition on April 29th!
Meet Josh Poling, founder of Mountain Sky Drones!
What started as curiosity quickly became a calling. I began training, studying FAA regulations, and flying every chance I had. The more I learned, the more I realized how much opportunity existed for precision agriculture, mapping, and search‑and‑recovery operations across West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. By 2023, that passion had grown into a clear vision, and I officially launched Mountain Sky Drones LLC. From there, the venture evolved rapidly. We expanded into agricultural spraying, invested in advanced equipment, and built a reputation for safety, compliance, and reliability. Each step—from writing our first operational manuals to flying our first large‑scale missions—reinforced that this wasn’t just a business; it was a service our region genuinely needed. What I’ve enjoyed most is building this company in West Virginia. There’s something special about helping local farmers increase yields, supporting first responders with better tools, and showing that cutting‑edge innovation can thrive right here in the mountains. West Virginians take pride in hard work and community, and Mountain Sky Drones was built on those same values. Every flight feels like a chance to give back to the place that shaped me.
Mountain Sky Drones will be competing in the Main Street track in the final round of the competition on April 29th!
Meet Tafara Ushendibaba, founder of FarmerzTool Technology!
“FarmerzTool began from my experience growing up on a small-scale livestock farm raising pigs and chickens, where we struggled to find affordable, practical technology built for operations like ours. That gap inspired me early on to build solutions that help farmers better manage data, automate tasks, and run more efficient farms. I first started shaping the idea around 2020–2021 after learning about the Ignite business plan competition while in college, and officially began building FarmerzTool in the summer of 2024. Since then, it has grown into a platform focused on simplifying livestock management for small and mid-sized farms. Building in West Virginia has played a major role in making this possible through support from programs like gBETA, Vantage Ventures, pitch competitions, and the WVU LaunchLab. I’ve enjoyed being part of a community that actively supports founders and wants to see local ideas succeed. I’m excited about continuing to grow FarmerzTool Technology from West Virginia and serving farmers both locally and globally.”
FarmerzTool will be competing in the Tech & Innovation track in the final round of the competition on April 29th!
Meet Marsha Waybright, found of Laurel Fork Farm
The story of Laurel Fork Farm has deep roots, but it truly became a West Virginia destination in 2020. During the uncertainty of the pandemic, I opened Laurel River Club Bed & Breakfast, a historic house at the heart of our 400-acre farm, as a way to share the land, its history, and Appalachian culture with guests seeking meaningful experiences. As I welcomed visitors, I began to notice a growing curiosity about sustainable farming, hands-on learning, and the natural rhythms of the land, a curiosity that quickly evolved into a vision for connecting agricultural innovation with education and conservation. From that spark, my ideas blossomed into a full-fledged venture. Today, I combine agritourism, conservation research, and technology development to offer an experience that is both educational and regenerative. Building this business in West Virginia has been an incredible adventure. I’ve loved connecting with local farmers, educators, and guests who share a deep love for the land. Over time, I’ve welcomed visitors from more than 70 countries and all but one U.S. state (North Dakota, consider this your personal invitation!). Sharing Appalachian heritage, demonstrating real, measurable impacts of sustainable practices, and creating a space where family, community, and stewardship intersect has been the most rewarding part of this journey. And the best part? It’s still growing, evolving, and surprising me every day.
Laurel Fork Farm will be competing in the Mainstreet track in the final round of the competition on April 29th!
Meet Kassidy Blatt, founder of GreenMatter! 📦🌿
“I started working at a greenhouse in high school, loving plants but questioning the plastic, styrofoam, and waste surrounding them. It felt contradictory to grow something good for the planet while producing materials that would outlive everything we harvested. When the 2018 Farm Bill opened the door for hemp, a new possibility emerged. The more research uncovered about hemp’s impact on soil health, carbon sequestration, and sustainable materials, the clearer the opportunity became: what if packaging could actually heal the environment instead of harming it? After transferring to WVU during my junior year, that idea turned into action, with real mentors, real resources, and a community that pushed it forward. I am now building something meaningful in West Virginia, alongside local farmers and collaborators, focused on rethinking packaging from the ground up.”
GreenMatter will be competing in the Tech & Innovation track in the final round of the competition on April 29th!
Meet Austin Taylor, founder of AT Woodwork! 🪵🪚
“I started my venture after my first year in shop class, when I realized I loved working with my hands and creating real, functional products. What began as a simple interest quickly turned into an opportunity when I completed a job for a local business. That project showed me that my skills could create real value, and it pushed me to officially register as a sole proprietor and start building a real company. Since then, the business has grown through hands-on experience, constant improvement, and learning from every project. What I’ve enjoyed most about building this in West Virginia is the people — the mentors who guided me, the clients who trusted me, and the community that supported me from the very beginning. That encouragement and sense of connection is what continues to drive me forward.”
AT Woodwork will be competing in the Main Street track in the final round of the competition on April 29th!
Meet Andrew Leich, founder of Tuscarora Climbing! 🧗⛰️
“As an avid climber, I kept learning of people in my community dying from simple rappel mistakes. When my boss at the climbing gym lost his friend Brad Gobright in 2019, I began seeking a way to fix this issue. I initially had a completely different idea I prototyped, but while it solved the problem at hand, it created smaller inconveniences that made it not a viable product. I continued trying to solve the issue with no breakthrough for six years, and had a breakthrough while driving to Seneca Rocks one evening. I immediately started drawing, taught myself how to use CAD, and 3d printed models, which provided proof of concept. Several of my friends were part of the rescue crew for a recent accident at Seneca Rocks, and this really prompted me to search for new angles to address the problem. Tuscarora Climbing LLC is an ode to the Tuscarora Sandstone of Seneca Rocks, which will one day prove to be the catalyst of my new safety device.”
Tuscarora Climbing will be competing in the Tech & Innovation track in the final round of competition April 29th!
