On Monday, April 21, 2025, the NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality’s HI HUB Incubator concluded its 2025 Fall Cohort with the signature “Pitch Your Passion & Seal the Deal” event. Held in person at Google HQ and virtually via Google Meet, this hybrid pitch contest brought together aspiring entrepreneurs, changemakers, and industry leaders for an exciting afternoon of making connections and inspiring presentations.
The event kicked off with remarks from Dr. Recep Karaburun and Dean Nicholas Graf of the Tisch Center, who welcomed the audience and emphasized the power of innovation in education and entrepreneurship. Investors and mentors, joining both in the room and online, also introduced themselves, setting the stage for a collaborative and engaging competition.
Four entrepreneurial teams took the spotlight, each given 8 minutes to pitch their startup to a panel of esteemed judges. The pitches were structured around key investor-focused questions, addressing challenges, solutions, business models, markets, and team strengths.
- Boost opened the event with their AI-powered housekeeping platform designed to automate hotel operations. Their tool increases efficiency through smart scheduling, task assignment, and communication, allowing staff to focus on what matters most, being exceptional guest experiences. The trio presented with a smile on their faces and even gave the audience a walkthrough of the demo.
- HotelsHeroes followed with a socially-driven concept that celebrates and empowers housekeepers. Through a global online booking platform with tipping options, they aimed to highlight these unsung heroes, raise industry standards, and build a new culture of recognition within hospitality. The brothers stood on stage with confidence, shared a personal connection to the material, and answered questions with ease.
- Mosaique pitched an innovative marketing technology platform using AI-generated consumer simulations to test campaigns before launch. Targeting marketers, agencies, and brands, Mosaique provides rapid insights at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional market research, helping users validate ideas with confidence. It was an excellent and well-thought-out pitch that left the audiences feeling intrigued.
- Rural Tourism Network (RTN) concluded the pitches with a heartfelt mission: revitalize rural America through tourism. Led by Briana Konecke, RTN creates a network for small towns and businesses, encouraging sustainable tourism, cultural preservation, and economic resilience across rural communities. Briana stood on stage as an individual entrepreneur and sold her company as a “DMO’s own version of Salesforce.”
After thoughtful deliberation, judges scored each pitch based on four categories: Business Model, Product & Originality, Market, and Team. During a networking break, both in-person and virtual attendees connected while final scores were tallied.
In the end, Rural Tourism Network emerged as the winner, receiving the $20,000 grand prize! Her commitment to community impact, clear business model, and powerful storytelling earned them top marks and enthusiastic support from the audience.
The HI HUB Incubator extends sincere thanks to all participants, mentors, investors, and supporters who brought this event to life. Pitch Your Passion Day was a celebration of ideas and a testament to the creativity, collaboration, and forward-thinking spirit that defines the future generation of entrepreneurs.
Stay tuned as we continue to grow and as we welcome the next wave of changemakers into the Incubator family.