Demo Day Spotlight: Spencer Strebe and Clear Ballot
Spencer Strebe is a VCUarts student known for bold ideas and a creative spark that shows up every time he steps into the Shift Retail Lab. As a two time Shelfie alumnus, Spencer has built a reputation for bringing fresh and unexpected concepts to life. This year at Demo Day, he introduced a venture that […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Natalia Rooks and Tati Tortillas
Tati Tortillas not only taste good – it does good. VCU School of Business student, Natalia Rooks, started the idea for Tati Tortillas with one simple mission: to bring delicious, authentic tortillas to the United States. Natalia first joined the Shelfie program in the Spring of 2025 to start testing her idea, “I lived abroad […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Kendall Liverpool and The Ballad of a Senior Hawkeye
Kendall Liverpool is a VCUarts student whose creativity shines not only through visual work but also through storytelling. At this year’s Demo Day, he introduced The Ballad of a Senior Hawkeye, a novel crafted by a rising author with a clear voice and a strong sense of character. His project brings readers into the world […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Justin Samson and RADLabs (DeepRunAI Labs)
Justin Samson is a VCU College of Humanities and Sciences student with a growing passion for cybersecurity and a commitment to building tools that keep people and systems safe. At Demo Day last fall, he introduced RADLabs DeepRunAI Labs, a venture focused on creating AI driven protection for modern cybersecurity challenges. Justin’s concept centers on […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Gabby Reed-Carlock and Giddi
Gabby Reed-Carlock originally developed the idea for her app, Giddi, as part of a first-year VCU Brandcenter course taught by KT Schaeffer. The assignment was to address a need or pain point that they noticed, and develop a product or service to solve that problem. Gabby and her group addressed the question that, on average, […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Alex Croce and High G Brain Strain Platform
Alex Croce is a VCU College of Engineering student with a passion for tackling problems that others rarely think about. At this year’s Demo Day, he introduced the High G Brain Strain Platform, a venture designed to support people who regularly experience high g force in flight, training, and specialized environments. The platform aims to […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Frances Odoi and CoCoGin LLC
Frances Odoi is a VCU alum, a Shelfie Program alum, and a valued community member whose passion for fresh, natural ingredients led her to create CoCoGin, a juice and beverage brand centered on clean flavors and nourishing blends. At this year’s Demo Day, Frances introduced CoCoGin with a clear mission to offer drinks that taste […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Malique Middleton and Gewd Ag
Malique Middleton is a VCU MPI alum and a multi cohort Shelfie Program alum whose work centers on food access, community knowledge, and empowerment. At last fall’s Demo Day, Malique presented Gewd Ag, a food focused venture built to help people grow their own food and reconnect with where it comes from. Gewd Ag was […]
Fall 2025 Demo Day: Celebrating Innovation Across VCU and Beyond!
“We’re so proud of everyone who presented at Demo Day! Pitching an idea in front of a live audience takes courage, clarity, and heart, and every student, alum, and community innovator who stepped up brought their best. Thank you to everyone who filled the room with encouragement, curiosity, and support. The energy was high, the […]
Celebrating Innovation and Creativity at VCU Demo Day and Holiday Market on November 14th!
The stage is set for one of the most inspiring moments of the semester—VCU Demo Day, a bi-annual pitch competition where student innovators take center stage. Hosted by Shift Retail Lab, this event brings together bright minds from across the university to share their ideas for new products, services and ventures. Finalists will deliver investor-style […]
