An Event Like No Other Realist Lab hosts Demo Day multiple times a year as the culmination of the 12-week Aspire curriculum. In Phase I of the Aspire program, participants focus on daily operations while attending weekly sessions on business fundamentals, market research, startup leadership, and financial preparation. This phase culminates in a Founder Demo Day, where fellows can present their businesses to a wider audience and a panel of judges.

Guiding the proceedings on June 5th, with their wealth of expertise and insightful feedback, were three distinguished judges:

• Malik Okoro, Ph.D., Senior Associate, Investments at Connecticut Innovations: Malik brings extensive experience in business operations and strategic insights from his background in biotech and investment.
• Qiana Patterson, Managing Partner at NAYAH: Qiana is a seasoned tech operator and investor with over 20 years of experience in B2B SaaS, fintech, and health tech, focusing on community-building and shared wealth.
• Dr. Alana Ackerson, Investment Partner at Connecticut Innovations: Alana is a tech entrepreneur and investor with a rich history of leading innovative fintech companies and strategic capital initiatives.

These judges, each with diverse backgrounds and extensive industry knowledge, evaluated each five-minute pitch session, making it a high-stakes moment for the tech founders who had poured their efforts into their presentations. After the pitches concluded, the judges convened to deliberate and make their final decisions. During this deliberation, Demo Day transformed into a vibrant celebration of entrepreneurship. DJ Dinero set the energetic stage with his beats while guests enjoyed refreshments and continued networking inside The Village Stamford’s studio space. This interlude provided the opportunity for the audience to engage in meaningful conversations, exchange ideas, and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the fellows, all leading up to the eagerly anticipated announcement of the winners.