Ventures Living on Paper Become Live Pitches: Local Entrepreneurs Bring Business Ideas to Life for Cash Prizes

 PROVIDENCE, RI – The hub at Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) buzzed with innovation Thursday night. Tackling challenges in industries ranging from biotechnology to STEM education and consumer goods, entrepreneurs competed for thousands of dollars and a spot on stage at SEG’s big pitch night next spring. Among them, two nurses, a Brown University researcher, a robotics engineer, and a single mom searching for sustainable solutions. But it was Horizon Robotics Labs who took the top prize, securing $2,000 sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield RI and a shot at $10,000 at SEG’s 2027 Impact Business Showcase.

Horizon Robotics Labs is the brainchild of Cristobal Rincon Rogers, a Providence native who returned to Rhode Island from Cape Canaveral, Florida to pitch his venture shortly after starting a new role at Blue Origin. His business makes learning robotics simple with step-by-step online courses to go along with hands-on kits, making engineering accessible and engaging for youth and beginners preparing for future education and careers in STEM.

“I essentially created what I wished I had growing up,” said Rincon Rogers, a 2024 graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. “With this money, I can invest into new products that can help people on their journey, helping them realize their roadmap. My time at SEG has been foundational to who I am as an entrepreneur; I want to make a business that has an impact. I’m grateful to everyone who’s inspired me throughout the process, and I hope to inspire others along my journey.”

EnkaBio Inc. – presented by co-founder Jay Trivedi, PhD of Warwick, R.I. – took second place and a $1,000 cash prize for its next-generation orthobiologic therapy aimed at healing meniscus injuries and preventing long-term joint degeneration.

Rounding out the competition in third place was Chelsie Santos of Warwick with FinSight Intelligence: an affordable, accessible, AI-powered financial analytics platform providing Bloomberg-level data for everyday investors. FinSight earned an exclusive SEG Hub membership where Santos can continue to build upon the concept.

“Pitch Night is a reminder of just how much ground these founders cover,” said Julie Owens, the CEO of SEG.  “In a single evening you hear from ventures working to improve people’s health and ventures getting kids excited about robotics and STEM. The problems are wildly different, but the founders share the same thing: they’re building real businesses to solve them. I leave every year more convinced this is where Rhode Island’s next generation of solutions comes from.”

The six entrepreneurs who shared their ventures Thursday night make up SEG’s Spring 2026 Accelerator cohort. They pitched to a panel of judges that included Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI Chief Technology Officer Joe Friedrichsen, Compass Working Capital Director of Programs Dwayne Keys, and Founder and CEO of Transgender Zone (prize winner at SEG’s 2026 Showcase) Victoria St. Germain.

All three winners will take the stage at the 2027 Impact Business Showcase in the spring for a chance at $10,000.

The full cohort included:

Turlte Island Community Capital | Alex Sterling & Sophia Francesco

EnkaBio, Inc. | Jay Trivedi

Finsight Intelligence | Chelsie Santos & Emma Choukroun

Flor | Jessica Hebert & Grace Matthews 

Horizon Robotics Lab | Cristobal Rincon Rogers

Next Size Up | Mae Loose 

SmartProBono | Baheem Ferrell

SmartSip | Nev Palmeri

About Social Enterprise Greenhouse: Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) catalyzes, connects, and invests in entrepreneurs driving transformational social impact. Over 25 years, SEG has supported more than 3,500 founders in launching and scaling durable, revenue-generating enterprises that strengthen Rhode Island’s economy and advance a more just, equitable, and resilient future. To learn more, visit www.segreenhouse.org.

—

Media Contact (For SEG)

Lynzi DeLuccia, Half Street Group

401.787.8666 | Lynzi@halfstreetgroup.com