Columbia Startups Named Finalists in $75K Sloss Tech Contest
Two South Carolina companies, PulManage of Columbia and Querri of Mount Pleasant, have been selected as finalists in the inaugural Sloss.Tech/Ideas Pitch Competition. The competition, organized by TechBirmingham, will award a total of $75,000 in prizes during the Sloss Tech conference from June 25-27 in Birmingham.
PulManage, founded by Amanda Clark, is competing in the ‘healthtech and biotech’ category. The company provides remote, high-quality pulmonary diagnostics for academic researchers, biopharma clinical trials, and real-world use. Their solutions are guided, scalable, and compliant in a market valued at over $1.3 billion.
Querri, founded by Dave Ingram, is a finalist in the ’emerging tech’ category. This AI startup helps non-technical teams turn messy data into actionable insights using natural language, enabling smarter and faster decision-making.
The Sloss.Tech/Ideas Pitch Competition is supported by a grant from the Regions Foundation, a nonprofit organization funded primarily by Regions Bank. The competition features 16 finalists from across the Southeast region, representing four key technology sectors: healthtech and biotech, emerging tech, agtech and foodtech, and mobility and transportation technology.
The prizes to be awarded include a $50,000 grand prize for the best overall presentation, a $10,000 People’s Choice Award, and three $5,000 category winner prizes. Each of the 16 finalists will receive comprehensive support, including coaching, travel stipends, and the opportunity to showcase their products and services during the Sloss Tech conference.
TechBirmingham President and CEO Deon Gordon stated, “The caliber of applications we received demonstrates the incredible innovation happening across the Southeast. These 16 finalists represent the future of technology in our region.”
Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation, added, “These finalists represent the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation that drives economic growth throughout our region. We’re excited to see how these companies will use this platform to accelerate their growth and create jobs in their communities.”
