Startups focused on robotics and biofriendly fertilizer earned top honors Thursday at the Center Street Pitch Competition held at the Dominion Energy Innovation Center in Ashland.
The winner in the energy and sustainability category was Sterling’s Applied Impact Robotics, which is developing an autonomous robotic solution capable of inspecting the floor of a crude oil tank while the tank remains in-service. The startup claimed a $7,500 prize.
“Their technology is truly bringing a groundbreaking technological solution to a real problem that costs money and takes a significant environmental toll,” said DEIC Director Adam Sledd.
Richmond’s NTP Technologies, which makes salt-free nitrate fertilizer that is organic, environmentally friendly and without hydrocarbon inputs, was the winner of the Richmond-area agriculture enterprise category. It also won a $7,500 prize.
Sledd said NTP’s product is highly relevant because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as Russia is one of the largest…
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