On September 24, 2025, entrepreneurs, investors, and educators from across the nation convened for Pepperdine 华体会体育’s 2025年最具融资能力公司竞赛 showcase, held at the Villa Graziadio Executive Center on 佩珀代因大学's Malibu campus. A distinguished panel of investors, venture advisors, and Pepperdine faculty selected the 14 winning startup companies from a pool of 2,300 applicants to be recognized within the eighth annual 最可融资公司名单.

Everett举办了最具融资能力的公司活动

Since the program’s inception in 2018, the most promising US-based ventures in healthcare, sustainable housing, transportation, clean energy, consumer products, and advanced technology with annual revenues of less than $10 million have been invited to enter the competition. This year, Pepperdine 华体会体育 alumnus Gene Eidelman (MBA ’19, PKE 142) was among the winners for his startup, Azure Printed Homes, Inc., cofounded by Ross Maguire.

“We’re very honored to be selected for this elite recognition, especially because the idea about our company was born on the Pepperdine campus,” said Eidelman, sharing that he met his current business partner while a Graziadio MBA student. “It has been both humbling and highly inspiring to realize this is an award that truly validates our mission to provide sustainable and scalable housing solutions—now additionally focused on helping those who lost their homes in the Palisades and Altadena wildfires. 我很感激得到我们正在帮助重建的社区的认可。”

Craig Everett, finance professor and executive director of the Most Fundable Companies program, hosted the event and highlighted the competition’s widespread participation—noting that, for the sixth consecutive year, companies from all 50 US 华体会体育s participated. Everett then thanked the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and 企业家ship, the program’s title sponsor for five consecutive years, who partnered with the George and Reva Graziadio Foundation among other distinguished supporters to underwrite the event.

“We are excited for you to meet the 14 startups who ran the gauntlet and emerged victorious this year,” said Everett as he outlined the intensity of the rigorous, multi-round competition. “这不仅仅是一场比赛； this is a due-diligence competition, and these entrepreneurs are the reason we are here.”

主题小组：蒙特帕特（左），弗兰克·福斯特，大卫·费尔德曼，洛克伍德·福斯特

Deborah Crown, dean of Pepperdine 华体会体育, spoke to how the Most Fundable Companies list serves as a national platform for burgeoning startups—signaling to investors that the listed companies are well positioned for long-term growth. While honoring the event’s original founders, Crown expressed her appreciation for present investors and members of the Pepperdine alumni community who were in attendance.

“在Graziadio，创业精神是我们深信不疑的东西，”Crown解释道。 “它是推动创新和推动经济增长的力量。 It requires resilience, creativity, and courage, and today we come together and champion the entrepreneurial spirit and to recognize founders who are building companies and creating solutions that lead to human flourishing.”

Following Crown’s remarks, Everett introduced Vince Monteparte (MBA ’01), Graziadio Board member, co-chair of the school’s 企业家ship and Family Business Committee, and principal of the investment banking firm Global Capital Markets. Monteparte moderated the event’s keynote panel, which discussed perspectives on scaling innovation, navigating capital markets, and how to best support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

小组成员包括吉迪恩·海森基金的弗兰克·福斯特和洛克伍德·福斯特； David Feldman, senior associate of Cerity Partners Ventures; and Stefan Gunnarsson, CEO of PropTexx—a 2024 Most Fundable Company winner.

大多数可融资公司都有听众

After the discussion concluded, Clemens Kownatzki, associate professor of finance and associate dean of academic programs, introduced the 14 Most Fundable Companies, who each presented their business models, annual revenues, and market opportunities. 然后，科纳茨基邀请观众投票选出粉丝们最喜欢的奖项。

From the 14 winning companies, the three fan favorites selected were Ink’d Greetings, Inc., a kiosk service that allows consumers to rapidly select, personalize, and print greeting and gift cards on demand in more than 100 retailers; Microvascular Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in the development of microbubble and nanotechnology products; and Somnair, Inc., pioneers of the first noninvasive neurostimulation solution for obstructive sleep apnea.

In closing, Everett noted how each of the startups was an inspiration, and that each will receive a digital and print feature in 企业家 magazine. 企业家s and investors were encouraged to continue their evening with a networking reception on the Villa Graziadio patio.

“Our proprietary methodology mirrors the diligence process used by investors and venture capitalists, giving the winners credibility and visibility with the investment community,” said Everett. “我们对Graziadio的创业精神感到非常自豪。”