Student Entrepreneurs Showcase Innovation at Wolf Den Competition

Wolf Den is a Shark Tank-inspired pitch competition that gives students the opportunity to pitch their business concepts to live judges from a variety of industries. The 2024 Wolf Den event was rescheduled to a virtual pitch day in January 2025.

After grueling pitches and questions, the judges awarded $5,000 in equity-free prize money across five student teams. Now, these teams are working alongside the NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship team and our mentors to gain valuable feedback and guidance to support their growth.

We talked with a few teams to learn more about their ventures and experience in the Wolf Den competition.

Meet Skanda Vasuki, founder of aiCADit

Skanda Vasuki is a junior studying business administration with a concentration in supply chain. His venture, aiCADit, is one of the world’s first text-to-3D model AI software, allowing anyone—young or old, technologically savvy or not—to design 3D models like a pro. The software works by allowing users to simply type up what they want to make, and within seconds, AI will develop and make a 3D model.

After winning first place and $2,000, Vasuki’s biggest takeaway from Wolf Den was the value of communication. He said, “It is so important to express your ideas in a way where anyone can be intrigued by your ideas and to get them excited!”

This competition is about more than just the money; it also helps founders develop as entrepreneurs. Vasuki said, “Wolf Den helped me grow as an entrepreneur by putting myself out there and [networking] with new people in various industries. Wolf Den also helped me get more involved in NC State’s entrepreneurship programs.” He is excited to travel to Silicon Valley over spring break to meet with other Wolfpack entrepreneurs.

Meet the Scyntek Team

Scyntek was founded by Bryce Menichella, a senior studying biomedical engineering, Karthik Ramakrishnan, Vignesh Sriram and Josh Henderson. Scyntek is developing a noninvasive early detection method for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using PPG sensor technology. Their goal is to make DVT detection faster, more accessible and cost-effective so that patients can get the care they need before complications arise.

The team reflected on the competition after securing second place and $1,500. Their biggest takeaway was the importance of telling a clear and compelling story about the technology and their business. Menichella said, “It’s easy to focus on the science, but at the end of the day, people need to understand why the solution matters and how it’s going to make a difference.” The team also noted the valuable feedback that helped refine their go-to-market strategy and critical thinking about their regulatory pathway.

The experience at Wolf Den helped the team gain a stronger sense of what investors and industry experts are looking for. “Getting tough questions on the spot was [a] great experience as it helped us be more prepared for the conversations we’ll have as we move forward,” said Menichella.

This competition also helped our students grow personally. Menichella said, “This competition reminded me how valuable outside perspectives can be. When you’re working on something for so long, it’s easy to get stuck in your own head, but getting feedback from judges and other entrepreneurs helped me see things in a new way.”

Meet the Other Teams

• LOOM3D | $500
  • Founded by Wilson College of Textiles graduate student Jeanine Fry, LOOM3D utilizes a commercialized, novel technology of seamless apparel weaving for waste-less garment production.
• Perserverancia | $500
  • Founded by Jack Rothacker, a senior in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Perserverancia is an international 501 (c)(3) that is actively building a seventh, eighth and ninth grade classroom in El Salvador, with the goal of supporting and innovating education one classroom at a time where it’s needed.
• Samsara | $500
  • Founded by Jessica Ardeshana, a junior in the College of Engineering, Samsara is a Gen-Z South Asian brand that blends Indian artisan techniques with contemporary style at prices the younger generation can afford.

Interested in learning more about these ventures? Come meet the teams at our VenturePack Challenge Awards Ceremony and Showcase on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in Talley Student Union.