This is the year that drones will shine.
The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Swim with the Sharks” contest on Wednesday named 2024 RealLIST Startup Droneversity as its 12th winner and a $10,000 prize winner.
Winner Ashlee Cooper, Droneversity (Courtesy of NCCC)
The annual event, which returned to Penn Cinema on the Riverfront this year, kicked off at the Bob Carpenter Center at the University of Delaware (UD). Over the years, it has evolved from a pitch competition focused on student entrepreneurs to a party for the community that celebrates diverse founders and companies.
Over the years, the event has been held as a luncheon, virtual event, and television special. Last year’s Penn Cinema event was won by the Trash Porters, founded by Christopher Boozer, and seemed to be making strides as a friendly, fun event that supports local businesses.
Droneversity, a drone education and services company founded by Ashlee Cooper, was the 2023 runner-up. In 2024, we added a new product: a drone light show, which is an alternative to fireworks.
“Our investment in Droneversity will not only expand our brand, but also increase our visibility in the market through our drone light show offering,” Cooper said.
The winners were selected by judges José Lopez of La Tolteca Mexican Restaurant, Margie Crouch of WSFS Bank, and Tierra Fair of United Way of Delaware.
The $2,500 runner-up was Coffee Rendezbrew, a Rehoboth Beach coffee company founded by Wanda Guyton.
Runner-up Wanda Guyton, Coffee Rendezvous (Courtesy of NCCCC)
The winner of Swim with the Shark’s $1,000 People’s Choice Award was Sindri Materials, a STEM manufacturing startup founded by Christopher DiMarco, also a 2024 RealLIST Startup.
People’s Choice winner Sindri Materials (Courtesy of NCCCC)
Other finalists include Color & Brow, a sustainable shampoo company founded by Diana Taylor, and Kai Coders, a tech education startup founded by 2022 RealLIST engineer Deanna Bledsoe.
During the event, DETV founder and presenter Ivan Thomas announced that all five finalists would be given a free 30-second spot on the network to help spread awareness for their businesses.
Delaware public officials provide support to startups
The event will feature this year’s keynote speaker, Carvertise CEO and co-founder and former winner of UD’s junior when the company won its first Swim with the Sharks in 2012. We welcomed Mac MacLeod. Matt Meyer, new Castle County executive and Democratic candidate for Delaware governor, also spoke.
McLeod said the accessibility of strong government leadership in the technology industry is a unique benefit for Delaware. He added that Meyer and other local officials have been supportive of him and his now international mobile advertising company.
Mac MacLeod, CEO of Carvertise (Courtesy of NCCCC)
“Take advantage of the Delaware ecosystem,” McLeod said. “In L.A., Boston, New York, you’re a statistic. But here you’re special.”
As the winner was about to be announced, MacLeod had one final piece of advice for the finalists.
“You have to actually believe in yourself and what you’re doing to see it,” MacLeod said. “All you can really do is believe.”
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