HeadStrait Labs Wins 2025-2026 Duquesne New Venture Challenge

 As first-prize winners of the prestigious annual pitch competition, HeadStrait Labs receives $20,000, 10 hours of free legal education through Duquesne's Thomas R. Kline School of Law and five hours of free consulting services from Duquesne's Small Business Development Center. HeadStrait Labs team members include co-founders Alyssa Theroux and Mary Squire, and Duquesne University affiliate Dr. Yvonne Weideman.
 
HeadStrait Labs is advancing next-generation immobilization technology by integrating sensor-driven monitoring on a uniquely designed splint that provides real-time feedback on patient movement during transport. This innovative technology helps first responders prevent secondary spinal injuries when timing and precision matter most.

By combining hardware, data analytics and clinically informed design, the company is shifting emergency care from static stabilization to continuous, data-informed interventions that improve outcomes. Their initial target market is pre-hospital emergency care, including EMS providers, fire departments, hospital trauma teams and military medics operating in high-risk environments.
 
"The DNVC continues to demonstrate how innovation, when grounded in purpose, can lead to meaningful change. Each year, we are increasingly impressed by the quality and sophistication of ideas presented. Our entrants are not only developing new ventures—they are advancing solutions with the potential to improve lives and strengthen communities," said Dr. Dean McFarlin, dean of the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business.
 
HeadStrait was one of 15 teams to advance to the competition's semi-final round from more than 150 initial entries. A panel of entrepreneurs, executives and investors selected five teams to participate in the in-person finalist presentations.
 
Additional finalists ranked as follows: 
 
2nd place: Accelowave Technologies, winning $10,000, plus 10 hours of free legal education through Duquesne's Thomas R. Kline School of Law and five hours of free consulting services from Duquesne's Small Business Development Center. Drs. Amanda Mahoney and Erin Lucatorto are offering revolutionary solutions designed to enhance the quality of life for individuals with swallowing disorders. They worked with Duquesne's Dr. Panayiota Senekkis as their affiliate. 

3rd place: SafeSock, winning $5,000, plus 10 hours of free legal education through Duquesne's Thomas R. Kline School of Law and five hours of free consulting services from Duquesne's Small Business Development Center. Akash Patel and Raj Patel are developing a sensor-lined foot sleeve that continuously delivers haptic biofeedback for patients who have undergone lower-limb surgery. They worked with Duquesne affiliate team member Tate Fordyce. 

4th place: TrainingU, winning $3,000. Founded by Duquesne University students Miles Imparato and Tyler Kato, TrainingU is a web-based marketplace where youth athletes can find and book one-on-one, personalized and affordable training sessions with NCAA athletes.

5th place: Peachy Day, winning $3,000. Founder Sophia Fang has created an integrative migraine care app with AI-powered health tracking, wellness coaching and neurologist telehealth. She worked with Duquesne affiliate Dr. Leda Klouda.

About Duquesne New Venture Challenge (DNVC)

The DNVC competition is hosted by the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business. Now in its seventh year, the competition offers cash and service prizes worth more than $100,000, allowing entrepreneurship teams to test their ideas and raise funding for their ventures. This year's competition saw the largest pool of applicants to date. The 2026-2027 DNVC will launch in fall with an expanded finalist cash prize package of $65,000, including $30,000 for first place.

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of more than 8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

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