Year in Review:
We are excited to share a few highlights from this past academic years events, clients, impact and growth. In total there have been 1,014 new vistors to the Morris. L Hayhurst LaunchLab with 64 being new clients. $571,004 in earnings generated for our clients and over 840 students were introduced to opportunities through the LaunchLab.
Fall 2025:
In the fall, The Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab focused heavily on the Mountain State Innovators Summit.
Presented by the Hayhurst Family and hosted by West Virginia University Extension & the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab, the Mountain State Innovators Summit, in November of 2025, which included a collection of live pitch competitions to bring West Virginia entrepreneurs and businesses together, network, find funding, and grow.
The Morris L. Hayhurst Innovational, which was based on nominations from community members to spotlight business they felt deserved recognition. The finalists for this competition were Logan Cuvo; Best Dam Tape, Evan and Evan-Nicole Chapman; Loving West Virginia, Adam Payne; YNST Magazine, Luke McConnell; Nikola Landscape and Lighting, and Andy Henthorn; Buddy N Beast.
The Christy Hayhurst Davis Undergraduate Pitch Competition focused on undergraduate students in the state of West Virginia. The finalists for this competition were Jamila Fleet; Edara, Kassidy Blatt; GreenMatter, Maggie Jordan; Full Bloom Marketing, Mackenna Valasek & Logan Moiles; Simply Smoothies, Nola Todd; Goldenrod Kitchen.
The James Davis Graduate Student Pitch Competition tailored to graduate students in the state of West Virginia. The finalists for this competition were Aryaunna Mosley; MUSEMO, Tafara Ushendibaba; FarmerzTool Technologies , Daniel Fournier; Market Leader Technologies/BotHQ-AI, Shon Rowan, Matt Smith, Carol Wright Becker; Procedure Chair, Juan Marino; Stud-IA.
The Ronald Hayhurst Brick and Mortar Pitch Competition is for West Virginia businesses that operate a brick-and-mortar location in the Mountain State. The finalists for this competition were Alexis Campbell; Withrow Sharpening & Sales, Colton Metzger and Matthew Tolliver; Cryptid Mountain Miniature Golf, Jade Hanna; Across the Board Game Café, Shelby Cavender & Tyler Jeffries; Old School WV, Beau Robinson; Natives Fly Fishing & Catch Cam Nets.
The Robert Hayhurst Veterans Pitch Competition is for veteran business owners who are within five years of separation (regardless of age). The finalists for this competition were Jack Taggart; The Gorge Wood Company, Toby Heaney; Toy Box Alley, Alex Pieken; Threat Readiness Solutions, Orland M. Underwood Jr.; UAFeeders, Clare Loftus; Blue Thistle Fibers.
The Beulah Hayhurst Women's Pitch Competition is for businesses that are woman-owned or women-focused. The finalists for this competition were Hannah Lenhart; Hannah's Studio/Hannah's Clay Creations, Katelyn and Harmony Duffield; Holler Fusion, Savanna Patterson; Mayfield Mountain Kennels, Kate Preston; Mountains to Water Woodshop, Maggie Blankenship; Old School Christmas Farm.
Spring 2026:
In the spring, the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab hosted two pitch competitions.
On March 25th, the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab hosted the 2026 EngageWVU Giving Circle Pitch Competition. The contestants consisted of six first time pitchers who gave their five-minute pitch followed by five minutes of questions from the panel of judges in hopes of winning up to $5,000. The lineup of contestants consisted of: Kesston Wanchick; LS Starter Mount Turnover Tool, Tyler Staub; ROC Shop, William Rakes; Dodeca Bench, Ruby Jackson; A&T Outlet, Alex Vahey; Tall Tales Plaques, and Ethan Weaver; Truss AI.
On April 1st, the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab held its 8th annual Zinnstarter Pitch Competition sponsored by Ray Zinn. This year’s competition was split into two separate categories: Let me Launch and Blast off. Let me Launch consisted of business ideas in their early stages while Blast Off consisted of entrepreneurs in later stages of development. The contestants for the Let me Launch Category: Carl Perry, Clef; Kesston Wanchick, LS Starter Mount Turnover Tool; Ruby Jackson, A&T Outlet; Leo Peele and Evan Lupinsky, Iron Ridge Cyber ; and Ethan Weaver, Weaver Systems. Next the Blast Off Category: Tyler Staub, ROC Shop; Logan Moiles and McKenna Valasek, Simply Smoothies; Kassidy Blatt, GreenMatter; and Logan Cuvo, Best Dam Tape.
S enior Client Spotlight:
Every year the LaunchLab has an array of outstanding clients, here are just a few;
Logan Cuvo the founder of Best Dam Tape, a hockey/sports tape company that specializes in producing high-quality tapes for athletes and players of all levels. Cuvo has had great success in many avenues since launching his business but when the invitation to participate in the chance to pitch his product for Walmart and Sam’s Club he had to go. His initial pitch hit and he was then invited to the next phase, Walmart’s Open Call in Arkansas, where 700 other small businesses hoped to receive a “golden ticket” and a place on the shelves. Around 100 businesses won a ticket, including Best Dam Tape.
Cuvo on this past year, the future, and winning a Walmart Golden Ticket “My school year was amazing, and I and go grateful to all the great resources WVU has to offer like the LaunchLab. They helped me prep to go down to Walmart HQ and secure a golden ticket which guarantees the opportunity to work with them. I am taking the company full time in May after graduation and we are growing everyday, expanding in hockey and into new sports and new people enjoying our products all over the world!”
Kassidy Blatt the founder of GreenMatter, a company producing sustainable, hemp-based packaging solutions. The idea came from her working at a local greenhouse and seeing all of the plastic waste that was produced solely from packaging. Since then, Blatt has pitched at numerous pitch competitions including this spring were GreenMatter was selected as a finalist for Ignite WV where she and her cofounder were awarded $15,000 for her business.
Blatt on Ignite WV and the future plans “The LaunchLab has been exceptional in supporting our startup GreenMatter. We were accepted as a finalist to pitch for Ignite WV which has opened the doors for so many possibilities for us when it comes to exposed expertise and funding opportunities. After graduation, GreenMatter has big plans over the summer to create our sustainable hemp-based materials and we are so grateful for everyone who played a part in making this happen. We're excited to see what the future holds!”
Nola Todd the founder of Goldenrod Kitchen, opened her restaurant this spring which specializes in breakfast food and baked goods offering vegetarian and vegan options. Alongside opening her store front she also was selected as a finalist to pitch in Ignite WV where she was awarded $26,000.
Leonardo Peele, co-founder of Iron Ridge Cyber, a cybersecurity software startup with the mission of automating software supply chain security. Since starting the business in March of 2026 the business has been accepted to 2026 Regional NSF I-Corp and won $5,500 at the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab’s Zinnstarter Pitch Competition.
The 2025-2026 academic year was amazing and we are even more excited for what’s ahead as we prepare for the next cohort and continued growth.